Coleen
Coleen Fay Pickard
d. May 4, 2017
Coleen Fay Pickard entered into rest May 4, 2017 at Prosser Memorial Hospital, at the age of 94. She was born June 11, 1922 in Wallace, Nebraska to Clarence A. and Elsie F. (Madsen) Webb. She was welcomed by her sister Bernice. When Coleen was 3 years old her mother Elsie passed away. Clarence remarried Frances Mitchell on June 27, 1930 and they had 3 boys. Due to the Dust Bowl, Clarence sold his ranch and bought a small farm on North River Road, in Prosser, WA. With another family, they moved their belongings on a model T truck and a Buick sedan, arriving in November, 1934. Later they moved to a larger dairy farm on Buena Vista Road.
Coleen graduated from Prosser High School in 1939. She participated in class reunions up until the 75th reunion. Go Mustangs! She joined her sister at St. Elizabeth's Nursing School in Yakima. She was capped May 30, 1941 and received her registered nursing license in January, 1944. She immediately went to work in Seattle as a nurse where she met and married William (Bill) Pickard, a Marine stationed in post-war Seattle on October 31, 1945. In 1947, Bill and Coleen moved to the Yakima Valley and made their home on Buena Vista Road where they operated a family Holstein dairy until 1980.
Over the years, in addition to being a devoted mother to her four children, Coleen supplemented the farm income by working as a nurse. She was on the opening staff of Prosser Memorial Hospital in 1947. She also used her nursing skills to help with the animal vaccinations on the farm and to serve her community as a public health nurse. She retired several times and returned on a part-time basis up until 2002 at 82 years old! She also volunteered for many years at the local Red Cross blood drawings.
She was a life-long and active member of the Prosser Methodist Church.
After Bill sold the herd and retired from dairying in 1980 they began traveling together, including visits to Mexico, the Holy Land, Syria, Turkey, Greece, Scotland, England, Holland, Denmark and China.
After Bill's sudden death in 2001, Coleen continued her travels but now with her children and grandchildren, including a trip to Denmark to visit her Danish cousins and a favorite cruise to Alaska where she walked on a glacier.
In 2006, with more than a little reluctance, Coleen decided to move from her home of sixty years into an apartment at Sheffield Manor. Within days, she met another new tenant, Elmer Sears. Any doubt about her decision was quickly forgotten as they began an exciting friendship. They were seldom apart for over six years until Elmer's death in 2016. They shared many trips to visit friends and relatives in Idaho, Montana and Elmer's hometown of Nespelem, WA.
Coleen was preceded in death by her beloved husband William Pickard, her mother Elsie, step-mother Frances Webb, father Clarence, sister Bernice Webb, brother Ronald and brother Gene Webb and dear friend Elmer Sears.
She is survived by her brother Ben (Hazel) and her children Mike (Esther), Jack (Sherrie), Patty (Archie), Jim (Brenda) and by grandchildren Joe, Katie, Mindy (George), Heidi, Shan (Ashley), Chelsea (Jason), Scott (Anh), Jessica (Uriah) and 11 great grandchildren and special friend Ron Breeze.
The family wishes to thank Prosser Memorial Hospital for the exceptional care in her last hours. Mom considered Sheffield Manor (now Amber Hills) her home and became friends with many staff during the 10 years she lived there. The family would like to thank them for their loving care.
Funeral Services will be 11 a.m. on Friday May 12, at Prosser United Methodist Church. Visitation will be at Prosser Funeral Home on Thursday from 4-7 p.m. with the family in attendance.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Coleen's name to the Prosser United Methodist Memorial fund, 824 Sixth St. Prosser, WA 99350.
Coleen graduated from Prosser High School in 1939. She participated in class reunions up until the 75th reunion. Go Mustangs! She joined her sister at St. Elizabeth's Nursing School in Yakima. She was capped May 30, 1941 and received her registered nursing license in January, 1944. She immediately went to work in Seattle as a nurse where she met and married William (Bill) Pickard, a Marine stationed in post-war Seattle on October 31, 1945. In 1947, Bill and Coleen moved to the Yakima Valley and made their home on Buena Vista Road where they operated a family Holstein dairy until 1980.
Over the years, in addition to being a devoted mother to her four children, Coleen supplemented the farm income by working as a nurse. She was on the opening staff of Prosser Memorial Hospital in 1947. She also used her nursing skills to help with the animal vaccinations on the farm and to serve her community as a public health nurse. She retired several times and returned on a part-time basis up until 2002 at 82 years old! She also volunteered for many years at the local Red Cross blood drawings.
She was a life-long and active member of the Prosser Methodist Church.
After Bill sold the herd and retired from dairying in 1980 they began traveling together, including visits to Mexico, the Holy Land, Syria, Turkey, Greece, Scotland, England, Holland, Denmark and China.
After Bill's sudden death in 2001, Coleen continued her travels but now with her children and grandchildren, including a trip to Denmark to visit her Danish cousins and a favorite cruise to Alaska where she walked on a glacier.
In 2006, with more than a little reluctance, Coleen decided to move from her home of sixty years into an apartment at Sheffield Manor. Within days, she met another new tenant, Elmer Sears. Any doubt about her decision was quickly forgotten as they began an exciting friendship. They were seldom apart for over six years until Elmer's death in 2016. They shared many trips to visit friends and relatives in Idaho, Montana and Elmer's hometown of Nespelem, WA.
Coleen was preceded in death by her beloved husband William Pickard, her mother Elsie, step-mother Frances Webb, father Clarence, sister Bernice Webb, brother Ronald and brother Gene Webb and dear friend Elmer Sears.
She is survived by her brother Ben (Hazel) and her children Mike (Esther), Jack (Sherrie), Patty (Archie), Jim (Brenda) and by grandchildren Joe, Katie, Mindy (George), Heidi, Shan (Ashley), Chelsea (Jason), Scott (Anh), Jessica (Uriah) and 11 great grandchildren and special friend Ron Breeze.
The family wishes to thank Prosser Memorial Hospital for the exceptional care in her last hours. Mom considered Sheffield Manor (now Amber Hills) her home and became friends with many staff during the 10 years she lived there. The family would like to thank them for their loving care.
Funeral Services will be 11 a.m. on Friday May 12, at Prosser United Methodist Church. Visitation will be at Prosser Funeral Home on Thursday from 4-7 p.m. with the family in attendance.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Coleen's name to the Prosser United Methodist Memorial fund, 824 Sixth St. Prosser, WA 99350.
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