Mary Ann Pickens

MARY ANN PICKENS Memorial services for longtime Mancos resident, Mary Ann Pickens will be held at 3 p.m. on Monday, March 27 at Ertel Memorial Chapel. Mary Ann Pickens, age 72, passed away at her home peacefully with family by her side on March 22, 2017 in Mancos, Colorado. Born February 13, 1945, in Magee, Mississippi to James Layvon (Smitty) and Kolean Smith, Mary Ann was the 4th of 6 children. Mary Ann came from simple beginnings. Her childhood was spent fishing with her dad and five siblings, raising chickens and helping her momma pick cotton. The family vehicle was a dump truck, which took the family from Mississippi where she was born, all the way west following her dad's pipeline career. The family ended up in Mancos in 1956, where they decided to settle down and raise their family. She graduated from Mancos High School in 1963 after marrying her husband Gilmer on November 22nd 1962. Together they welcomed two daughters, Lorie and Ronda. They moved to Northern Colorado where she began her career with the United States Post Office, living in Basalt and commuting to Aspen. In 1977 they moved back to Mancos where she continued her career, retiring in 1999 after 30 years of service. While living in Mancos, Mary and Gilmer shared their love of racehorses and going to the casino. She was on various bowling leagues and a member of the Mancos High School Booster Club. She loved working the Hour Glass Roping Club events at she and Gilmer started. She loved to spend time outside where she would be found wearing flip-flops working on her yard tending to her flowers. Her favorite things to collect were mini tea sets, wind chimes, antiques, and anything Christmas (she only has 46 boxes of Christmas decorations). Her favorite Christmas traditions were making Christmas cookies with her grand kids and trimming her beautiful tree. She was an avid fan of the Denver Broncos, old country music and western movies and TV shows. Mary always loved a house full of people especially if she "HAD" to cook for them. On several occasions her son-in-law's needed to join weight watchers after her meals. Mary is survived by her daughters Lorie Barber (Ray) of Tijeras, NM and Ronda Cox (Rodney) of Mancos; her grandchildren, Leoni Bilyeu (Ryan) of Tijeras, NM, Cody Barber (Samantha) of Amarillo, TX, Kendra Cox of Cortez, and Kyle Cox of Fort Collins, CO; her great-grandchildren Kenzie and Jace Bilyeu; her siblings; Susie Noland (Frank), of Mancos, Judy Reider, of Kline, CO, Jack Smith (Jeanne) of Mancos, Paul Smith (Rhonda) of Grand Junction, CO. She is preceded in death by her Husband of 53 years, Gilmer Pickens, her parents, and her sister Vonda May. Memorial contributions may be made in Mary Ann Pickens' name to Hospice of Montezuma P.O. Box 740, Cortez, Colo. 81321.