Frances Anne "Fran" Pickett (Brown)

Pickett (Brown), Frances Anne "Fran"

Frances entered eternal life on Thursday, June 25, 2020, at the age of 97 years, surrounded by her loving family. She was born to Joseph P. Brown and Mary L. (Lewiandowski) Brown on Tuesday, June 13, 1923, in Jackson, Michigan.

She married Robert D. Pickett on April 27, 1946. Together they had five children who survive; Robert D. (Kathleen Donahue), Lorraine F. Graves, Timothy B. (Cheryl Collins), Victoria J. (Thomas ) Webster, and Jody A. (Dennis) Doherty. Also surviving are 12 grandchildren; multiple great-grandchildren, and a special friend, neighbor, and helper, Robin Walling.

She was preceded in death in 1976 by her loving husband, Robert D. Pickett; four siblings, Joseph Brown, Edward Brown, Mary (Brown) Boley, and Bernard Brown; and step-granddaughter, Kelley A. Lindahl.

Fran's children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren will forever cherish the memories created by a mother and grandmother who put her family before herself. Between her granddaughter, Jennie Belden, and herself, they had a competition on who could call the other first to announce the first snowflakes arrival.

Frances dedicated her life to the church, family, and nursing career consistent with her strong value system. She taught her children about faith, love, and how to respect and honor your fellow man. She was a lifelong member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and dedicated her life to the Blessed Mother.

She always attributed her calling to be a nurse to her grandmother, who served as the neighborhood midwife. She knew that a baby was on the way when her grandma put on her white apron. Fran was a 1945 graduate of Mercy Hospital School of Nursing. She had a long and notable career spanning 43 years of service to the Jackson, Michigan community. Her experience included hospital care, private duty nursing, industrial, and school nursing. The high points of her career were the Jackson County Farm, now known as the Jackson County Medical Care Facility. Also, being the first nurse for Head Start and Lyle Torrant Center. Her dedication to nursing was evidenced by the fact that she maintained her active RN License until the age of 95, at which time she was the oldest licensed RN in the State of Michigan.

Frances will be forever loved, remembered, and missed by her family, friends, coworkers for many years to come.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, June 29, 2020 at 10:30 AM at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church with Fr. Robert Pienta officiating. Interment will follow at St. John's Catholic Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the church on Monday from 9:30 to 10:30 AM.

The Mass may also be viewed on Live Stream on St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church webpage: saintjohnjackson.org then go to Streams and log in 5 minutes before 10:30 AM.

A very special thanks to the staff at the Jackson County Medical Care Facility and the staff at the Henry Ford Allegiance Hospice Home. Their loving care and concern was exemplary.

If you wish, donations can be made to St. John the Evangelist Parish organ fund or Henry Ford Allegiance Hospice Home.

Desnoyer Funeral Home
Family owned for 130 years