February 10, 1935 – August 17, 2026
Our Mother, Nani, Great Nani, and Aunt Jeanie went to heaven peacefully on August 17, 2026, to join her husband, Richard Pickett.
Born as Arnola Jean Fosnight to Reva Fosnight, after her mother and grandmother’s passing, she was lovingly adopted by Willie and Carrie (Purdy) Boyer. Arnola was a lifelong resident of Sheridan and attended Sheridan High School where she participated in many class activities. She served as class vice-president, played in the orchestra and band, was a member of several service clubs and cheered for four years for the dear old SHS. Arnola was a member of the local Job’s Daughters and moved through the ranks to serve as their Honored Queen.
After graduation in 1953, Arnola worked at Indiana Bell in downtown Indianapolis. While there, she met her future sister-in-law, Donna Eccles. When Richard Pickett was discharged from service with the U.S. Coast Guard, he courted and dated Arnola and they were wed at the Sheridan First United Methodist Church on November 21, 1954.
Arnola and Richard settled in a small house on 8th Street in Sheridan and lived in one of two homes along that quaint street for the rest of their lives.
Arnola, or Jeanie to her husband and family, loved to cook, clean, shop, and travel. She and her husband (often with other family members) visited Alaska, Hawaii, Las Vegas (several times), the Caribbean, Mexico, and most of the U.S. states.
Sheridan First United Methodist Church was her home church as a child as well as with her growing family. She was a member of the Koinonia Circle. As a founding member of the Sheridan chapter of Phi Beta Psi service sorority, she served her community for over 50 years.
After caring for her ailing parents, Arnola wanted to become a nurse. While most women start to settle in at age 49, she attended J. Everett Light Career Center and graduated as a Licensed Practical Nurse in 1984. She worked at the local doctor’s office and our community nursing home for many years.
Richard and Arnola owned and operated Pickett’s Whirlpool Appliances in Sheridan. Arnola answered the phones, relayed messages, kept the books, coordinated the service calls and deliveries, and often diagnosed a faulty appliance over the phone so parts could be ordered. On many occasions, she drove the truck to supply houses to pick up loads of refrigerators, freezers, washers, and dryers to restock their inventory.
All in all, they were lifetime partners. Richard and Arnola spent their last days at Wellbrooke of Westfield. If you were lucky, you could catch them going down the hallway to the dining hall, each in their wheelchair, holding hands.
Arnola Pickett is survived by her four children: Kathy (Greg) Bray of Sheridan, Karen (Randy) Pence of Noblesville, Keith (Mary) Pickett of Sheridan, and Kevin (Dan) Pickett of Forney, Texas; 10 grandchildren: Russell (Juli) Bray of Grand Rapids, Mich., Carrie (Nate) Byerly of Kokomo, Ind., Robert (Aly) Bray of Zionsville, Ind., Richard (Andi) Bray of Columbus, Ohio, Desi (Andrew) Pauley of Noblesville, Orey Pence of Fortville, Ind., Allie (Aaron) Deal of Fishers, Courtney (Mike) Twyford of Sheridan, Andy (Heather) Pickett of Sheridan, and Richard (Jordan) Pickett of Deale, Md.; 26 great-grandchildren: Ruthie, Josiah, Keren, Zander, Warren, Clara, Joe, Zeke, Olivia, Logan, Cora, Lincoln, Leo, Luca, Livi, Kordell, Rylee, Quincy, Raegan, Kaelin, Cooper, Caleb, Brody, Madelyn, Kingsley, and Harleigh; and sisters-in-law: Ruth Pickett Sanders and Winona (Hoover) Moss.
Arnola is preceded in death by her loving husband of 71 years, Richard A Pickett; her birth mother, Reva Fosnight; grandparents, Ellis and Ida Dean; her parents, Willie and Carrie (Purdy) Boyer; her brother, Clair Dean; her sister, Dorothy Brattain; and brothers and sisters-in-law: Bryce Pickett and wives Betty Jo and Mary Grace, Donald Pickett, James Pickett and wife Donna, John Smith, and Wiley “Bud” Sanders.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Sheridan First United Methodist Church, 207 E. 2nd St. Family and friends are invited to gather from noon till time of services. Burial will follow at Crown View Cemetery in Sheridan.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Sheridan First Methodist Church or Phi Beta Psi Donna Pickett Memorial Fund.
Everyone is invited to sign the online guestbook, leave a condolence, or share a memory at fisherfamilyfunerals.com. Fisher Family Funeral Services is honored to serve the Pickett Family.
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