Obituary for Tracy Lynn Pickett
Tracy Lynn Pickett, age 53, passed away peacefully on June 26, 2019 surrounded by her loving family. Born in Sebring, Florida on June 24, 1966 and later moved with her family to Alread, Arkansas in June 1973. Tracy came into this world with a mission to spread joy and friendship to all she encountered.
Tracy's positive energy and determination helped break down the stigmas attached to those with physical and mental disabilities in her local community. Tracy was born with a genetic disorder known as Down Syndrome. Down Syndrome is caused when abnormal cell division results in extra genetic material from chromosome 21. In 2011 Tracy was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s which is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other critical mental functions.
Her family was one of the founding members of Van Buren County Special School when it opened in 1974. VBCSS was started to by a group of concerned citizens who saw a need for special education services for the disabled citizens of Van Buren County. The VBCSS has now been in operation for over 40 years and serves over 150 consumers per year. Tracy was an active member for over 38 years and built lifelong friendships. During her time at VBCSS, she competed in the Arkansas Special Olympics; in her younger years she participated in track & field events such as fast walk and softball throw, in teen and early adult years she competed in fast walk and played on the softball team, and later in her adult life she competed in bocce ball.
Tracy was an active member of Alread Church of Christ and later Choctaw Church of Christ. She found great joy in hanging out at Airmotive Inc with the men at the shop, doing art projects, playing (and winning) card games such as Skip-Bo or Uno, singing karaoke, going to either the beach or Branson and just enjoying time with her family and friends.
Tracy is survived by her loving parents Roger and Denver Pickett with whom she lived; her devoted brother and sister in love, Michael and Rhonda Pickett of College Station, TX. Tracy also leaves 2 adoring nephews, Sjon and Andrew Pickett, several uncles and aunts, and many cousins. True to the adage, Tracy leaves behind more friends than there are stars in the sky.
The family is sincerely grateful to the Kappi Hillenberg, White River Area Agency for Aging, MedicOne, Ozark Health Hospital in Clinton, Baptist Health Medical Center in Conway, and Kindred Hospice staff. These professionals cared for Tracy with the utmost respect and love in her later years and final moments.
SERVICES: A celebration of Tracy’s life will be held at Choctaw Church of Christ on Friday, July 5, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. Michael Pickett, brother of Tracy, Neil Wilkins, Direction of Van Buren County Special School and David Cook, preaching minister of Choctaw Church of Christ will be the celebrants.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Van Buren County Special School, 3707 AR-95, Clinton, AR 72031 or https://vbcss.org or Alzheimer’s Association at https://act.alz.org
Arrangements entrusted to Clinton Funeral Service. To sign Tracy’s online registry, please go to www.clintonfuneralservice.com.
Tracy's positive energy and determination helped break down the stigmas attached to those with physical and mental disabilities in her local community. Tracy was born with a genetic disorder known as Down Syndrome. Down Syndrome is caused when abnormal cell division results in extra genetic material from chromosome 21. In 2011 Tracy was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s which is a progressive disease that destroys memory and other critical mental functions.
Her family was one of the founding members of Van Buren County Special School when it opened in 1974. VBCSS was started to by a group of concerned citizens who saw a need for special education services for the disabled citizens of Van Buren County. The VBCSS has now been in operation for over 40 years and serves over 150 consumers per year. Tracy was an active member for over 38 years and built lifelong friendships. During her time at VBCSS, she competed in the Arkansas Special Olympics; in her younger years she participated in track & field events such as fast walk and softball throw, in teen and early adult years she competed in fast walk and played on the softball team, and later in her adult life she competed in bocce ball.
Tracy was an active member of Alread Church of Christ and later Choctaw Church of Christ. She found great joy in hanging out at Airmotive Inc with the men at the shop, doing art projects, playing (and winning) card games such as Skip-Bo or Uno, singing karaoke, going to either the beach or Branson and just enjoying time with her family and friends.
Tracy is survived by her loving parents Roger and Denver Pickett with whom she lived; her devoted brother and sister in love, Michael and Rhonda Pickett of College Station, TX. Tracy also leaves 2 adoring nephews, Sjon and Andrew Pickett, several uncles and aunts, and many cousins. True to the adage, Tracy leaves behind more friends than there are stars in the sky.
The family is sincerely grateful to the Kappi Hillenberg, White River Area Agency for Aging, MedicOne, Ozark Health Hospital in Clinton, Baptist Health Medical Center in Conway, and Kindred Hospice staff. These professionals cared for Tracy with the utmost respect and love in her later years and final moments.
SERVICES: A celebration of Tracy’s life will be held at Choctaw Church of Christ on Friday, July 5, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. Michael Pickett, brother of Tracy, Neil Wilkins, Direction of Van Buren County Special School and David Cook, preaching minister of Choctaw Church of Christ will be the celebrants.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Van Buren County Special School, 3707 AR-95, Clinton, AR 72031 or https://vbcss.org or Alzheimer’s Association at https://act.alz.org
Arrangements entrusted to Clinton Funeral Service. To sign Tracy’s online registry, please go to www.clintonfuneralservice.com.