Mary Ann Nowlin Pickering was born in 1936 and passed on February 23, 2026. A native Houstonian, she attended Lanier Junior High and Lamar High School. She went to Lindenwood University, a small girls school in Missouri, then the University of Texas at Austin where she was a member of the Chi Omega sorority.
Even though the Pickerings grew up near each other & attended the same schools, they never really knew each other until college. Probably because Mary Ann was a year older than Mike & way too cool to date an under classman. They married in 1957 & enjoyed 68 years together until Mike passed almost four months ago.
They moved back to Houston where Mike was a successful attorney & Mary Ann was an even better Mom, Wife, friend,tennis & bridge player. They enjoyed hosting parties in their pool & at their vacation home in Lakeway.
Although not Gagy’s most favorite place, since the 1960s, she’d suck it up & spent many good times with family & friends at their 990 Ranch in Pearsall. Mary Ann & Mike were fortunate to also go on many vacations to different parts of the world.
In 2000, they moved to Horseshoe Bay to be closer to their only grandchild, Meryll Mabray Hodson. Gagy & Mike Mike toured Texas supporting Meryll in her multiple sporting activities. When great grandchildren, Brooks & Barrett Hodson came along, they continued pounding the pavement to attend the boys events & even sponsored their baseball teams.
Mary Ann was predeceased by her parents,Thelma (who the family thankfully called Granite) & James Foster Nowlin, her brother Jimmy Nowlin & her husband, Mike who she is so happy to be with now. They are smoking cigarettes, having cocktails & hanging with the family dogs & many friends.
Gagy is survived by daughters, Cheryll Pickering Mabray and husband, Wynn, and Carrie Pickering, and husband, Dave Antel; granddaughter, Meryll Mabray Hodson, and husband, Ryan; and great grandsons Brooks and Barrett Hodson.
The Pickering family would like to thank and honor Gagy & Mike Mike’s fabulous caregivers, Jackie Hoskin and Nancy Everist. All families should be as fortunate to have such wonderful,unwavering support and love as these ladies provided.
Because pets are family, the Pickerings request donations be made in Mary Ann’s honor to: Llano Animal Rescue, Lionhearts TNR or Hill Country Humane Society. Also to New Century Hospice for the great care provided to the family.
Mary Ann’s Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00pm on Friday, March 6,2026 at Clements Wilcox Funeral Home in Marble Falls. Luncheon to follow.
