Mary Ann Pickard

Mary Ann Pickard had the determination of a rhino. She never stumbled or questioned what people might say but what mattered was, “What would Jesus say.” She had a tender heart and deep convictions and was always ready to share Christ and encourage believers. She had no need for status and recognition; however, she was always ready to give you a hug and maybe a kiss. She experienced joy in everything. There were so many scriptures that she loved, but this one really set her free…1 Peter 5:7. “Casting all your care on him for he careth for you.” There was a boundless freedom she found in the Lord that most people can only dream about. Her passion was to feed the hungry and save souls.

Mary Ann was a 1948 graduate of Grand Prairie High School. While there, she was a cheerleader, played on the girls’ Gopher basketball team 3 years, Gopher baseball 3 years, and was a Gopherette. You'll have to go back and look at the records to believe this, but she was voted Sophomore class favorite as well as Junior and Senior favorite but the judges said you could only be selected once.

Upon graduation, she worked for Southwestern Life Insurance Company in Dallas. She also enrolled in Patricia Stevens Modeling school. After graduating from modeling school, she modeled for Neiman Marcus, Titche’s and a variety of catalogs. Patricia Stevens wanted her to represent them in the Miss Texas pageant in Galveston in 1950 but she declined due to the fact she was working and had just gotten engaged to Grant Pickard, and she needed to focus on the wedding.

She married Grant Pickard in 1951, and they had three children, Christi Ann Turner, Stacey Lee Michelsen, and Mitchell Bryant Pickard. They were a treasure that she guarded and loved who made her tremendously happy every day of her life. Watching them grow into beautiful human beings was the greatest pleasure of her life. She had two sons-in-law, Rob Michelsen and Tim Turner who got high marks from her and Grant for being great husbands to the girls.

Now, the five brightest stars of her life were her grandsons… Ross Michelsen, Clay Turner, Austin Michelsen, Nicholas Turner, and Lucas Pickard. She loved them until her last breath. She wanted them to continue to let God guide their lives. Psalms 37:4-5, “Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in Him, and he shall bring it to Pass.”

She had four gorgeous mothers of her great grandsons: Beth Michelsen, Hunter and Grant; Jules Turner, Roscoe, Miles, and Huckleberry, Ashley Gordon, Theo; and Billie Jo Michelsen, Colton and Braden. Thirteen grands and all boys!

Later in life she worked three years at the Grand Prairie Daily News, twelve years for the Dallas-Fort Worth Lenders Exchange, and seven years at Montgomery Ward Administration offices in Great Southwest before retiring. In those years of working she loved to go to the Grand Prairie gun Club and shoot skeet. She loved shooting skeet.

She taught Sunday School nine years, was Outreach Leader for thirteen years, Vacation Bible School forty years, and served on the Faith Team for twenty years. She also served the Lord on numerous Mission Trips and the Master Builder’s ministry. She attended First Baptist since she was around 10 years old which would make her a member for almost 82 years! She had a busy life serving her church family.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

A Visitation for Mary will be held Friday, September 15, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at First Baptist Church Grand Prairie, 950 Mayfield Road, Grand Prairie, TX 75052. A Funeral Service will follow at 11:00 AM. Committal service will be held on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 at10:15 AM at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, TX 75211.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.grandprairiefh.com for the Pickard family.