Elizabeth Ann Pickens

Elizabeth Ann “Betty” Pickens, 86, of Oklahoma City, passed away peacefully on October 5, 2025. Born in Tulsa, OK in 1939, she was the only child of Rayburn and Milburn Davis. Betty lived a life full of hard work, joy, love, and devotion to her family. Raised in Oilton, OK, she graduated from Oilton High School in 1957 with a strong academic record, while always taking pride in the fact that she won the blue ribbon for being the best typist in her class. Following high school, Betty married young and from that marriage was born her only child, Cathy Ann, in 1960.

While raising a young Cathy, Betty began working in 1962 for Miss Mary Francis, a prominent Oklahoma City attorney, who was a member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, and who was the first president of the Woman Lawyers of Oklahoma. Following the unexpected death of Miss Francis in 1968, and having earned the full faith and trust of the surviving Francis daughters, Sperry Rademaker and Marcia Smoke, both of whom became U.S. Olympic kayakers and competed in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, Betty became the Manager of the Francis family business, Francis Investments, which owned and operated numerous commercial developments in and around the Oklahoma City metroplex, many of which survive to this day.

Betty managed Francis Investments for more than thirty years. In the early 1970’s, she obtained her commercial real estate license, at a time when very few women were operating in that field. And then in 1974, she met the love of her life, Richard L. (“Dick”) Pickens. They married in 1975, beginning a 50-year love affair that burned so brightly that the flame was not even diminished by Dick’s passing in August of 2022, as Betty spoke with delight of seeing and being with Dick soon up through her final days.

During their journey together they had what many married couples might consider an uncommon (others might say, impossible) ability to not just play well together but also work well together. Not only did Betty raise and support Cathy, and manage Francis Investments for over 30 years, but when she married Dick, she also became the President of Richart Distributors, a company he founded in 1965. With Dick being a natural born salesman, and Betty being a financial stalwart, together they grew Richart as a family business that continues today. While it might be difficult to put a finger on their secret sauce, it’s a testament to both that, for those that knew them, it’s hard to think of one of them without thinking of the other one. Dick and Betty. Betty and Dick.

They were pretty much inseparable. And not just while working. They had a lot of fun together. Betty loved family time and family gatherings, especially at the different homes they built and shared over the years, either in Oklahoma City, or on Grand Lake, in St. Croix, and for the past 25 years, in her mountain home in Ridgway, Colorado. She loved to read, to decorate, to entertain, to cook, to travel, and to birdwatch. And she loved to shop, especially with Cathy. Mother and daughter shared many shopping excursions to places like Dallas, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco. Later in life, she enjoyed shopping on QVC and HSN. And she and Dick had so many wonderful adventures traveling together. To many places across the U.S. in their motor home, or overseas to places in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, and the Caribbean.

Betty also had a real passion for fostering and promoting the careers of women in the workforce. Whether inspired by Miss Francis or forged from the crucible of her own professional experiences, she believed in giving women opportunities to succeed and in encouraging their development. She often told her son-in-law that he needed a woman to run his law practice, because women are organized, dependable, and efficient. In this vein, nothing made her prouder than the accomplishments and successes of Cathy.

And then when grandson Davis was born in 1998, Betty became Mimi. Whether taking Davis on a vacation, or to Johnnies for lunch, or staying home reading books, watching shows, or cooking him a meal, time with Davis was always cherished by Mimi. Davis would often say, “Mimi made the best grilled cheese sandwiches any grandson could enjoy.” At the end of the day, what Betty loved most was family.  Whether it was enjoying her spicy Bloody Mary’s before her famous egg casserole after opening presents Christmas morning or sitting on the deck overlooking the mountains while observing and listening to the hummingbirds, with a book in one hand and a cocktail in the other, if family was around, Betty was happiest. And the story of family for Betty would not be complete without mention of her pets. She loved animals of all types, and especially her pets, including Muffy, Winston, Tucker, Josie, Pepper, and numerous stray cats.

Surviving her to cherish her memory are her daughter, Cathy Perri, son-in-law, Mike Perri, and grandson, Davis Perri. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her beloved husband, Dick.

Her family is beyond appreciative for the care and love provided to her these past 7 years by the wonderful people at Integrity Senior Care, notably, Barbara and Cory Booker, Misty, Jessica, Carol, and Tammie, as well as Emerald Hospice.

A visitation will take place at Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Home, 6600 Broadway Ext., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73116, between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.