Norma Kathleen Pickens
Funeral services for Norma Pickens were held on Sunday, February 21, at First Baptist Church in Teague with Bro. Scott Matthews officiating. Interment followed the services at Greenwood Cemetery.
Norma Kathleen Nance Pickens, most often called Nanny and Mrs. Pickens, was born July 27, 1947 in Teague to Genell and Gene Nance. Her early childhood was spent in Teague before she moved to Ganado where she attended school and graduated high school with the class of 1965.
She graduated from Sam Houston State University in May of 1969 with a bachelor’s in science. She returned to Teague after graduation where she met Jerry Pickens. They were married shortly after on September 5, 1969 and shared over 51 years of marriage together. They shared two daughters: Julie Ann (September 4, 1972) and Susan Yvette (September 3, 1975).
Her greatest passions were her faith, family, and teaching. She was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church in Teague for over 50 years. She also taught Sunday school for many years and helped with Wednesday night church functions.
She was also a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother (Nanny). Norma could be seen at just about every sport or event that her grandkids participated in, at both Lorena and Teague. To be such a quiet woman, Norma’s passion could be seen and felt by an umpire or referee, when she felt the call they made was not the right one.
She loved nothing more than to have all her family around the kitchen table. Of the many special traditions, her two favorites were at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
At Thanksgiving, everyone gathered around the table holding hands and shared what they were most thankful for that year. At Christmas, every year the grandkids took turns reading the Christmas story out of Luke before opening gifts.
Her passion for teaching could be seen by all the students who hugged her when seen around town. She never really retired from teaching, as by the evidence of her never-ending volunteering at a preschool or helping grandkids with homework.
She experienced many trials throughout her lifetime. Despite all she was going through, not one time did she ever complain. She turned to the Lord for strength and never wavered in her faith. She always trusted his plan even when it was hard to understand. All the while fighting her own battles, she made it a priority to pray for those on her handwritten prayer list.
She was definitely a PRAYER WARRIOR. Isaiah 41: 13 was one of her favorite verses that she would cling to during her cancer treatments. “For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”- Isaiah 41:13
Norma is survived by her husband, Jerry Pickens; two daughters, Julie Smith of Teague, Texas, and Susan Steen and husband Steven of Teague, Texas; she was “Nanny” to six grandchildren, Jared Smith, Madison Steen, Braden Smith, Mackenzie Smith, Mallory Steen, and Miley Steen; two brothers, Mike Nance of Swanee, Georgia, and Larry Nance of Pflugerville, Texas; one sister, Carol Ann Fowler & husband Billy of Ganado, Texas; two aunts, Francis Martin of Palmer, Texas, and Mary Barker of Teague, Texas; special cousin, Yvette Greene Ellison of Dickens, Texas; and numerous nieces, nephews, and special friends.
Norma was preceded in death by her parents, Genell Nance, Gene Nance, and Jimmie Nance; special aunt and uncle, Fannie & Gerald Weaver; special grandparents, John and Lily Weaver, and Beatrice Cartwright; son-in-law, Timothy Smith; and special sister-in-law, Mary (Midge) Nance.
The family requests memorials be made to the Freestone Cancer Group, P.O. Box 1522, Fairfield, TX 75840 or to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 791, Teague, TX 75860.
Please visit our website at www.bowersfuneralhome.net to sign the memorial guestbook or to leave a message for the family.