Kirby Pines Retirement Community | The Pinecone

Following her high school graduation in 1969, Nancy enrolled in the University of Tennessee at Martin, Tennessee, for two years of pre- pharmacy. She was then accepted and enrolled in the University of Tennessee School Of Pharmacy in Memphis, graduating in 1974 with a B.S. in Pharmacy. Successfully passing the boards for licensure, it was necessary for Nancy to complete the required hours of clinical experience. To accomplish this, Nancy worked in the pharmacy at the John Gaston Hospital–the former hospital for the City of Memphis. On completion of that requirement, she worked in the pharmacy of Methodist South Hospital for five years. She then became employed by a pharmacy which serviced long-term care facilities such as nursing homes and assisted living. Nancy had chosen to stay in Memphis. She loved to garden and enjoyed delivering Meals-on-Wheels for several years. She placed membership at Lindenwood Christian Church. She also continued playing tennis with her friends, and it was on the tennis courts that she met her future husband. After several months of courtship, they were married in 1977. They had three children, Melanie, Stephanie and Allan. While the children were small, Nancy was a stay-at-home mom. When they were all in school, she returned to part or full-time work in long-term care pharmacies. Sadly, Nancy and her husband divorced in 1999. In 2011 and living alone in Memphis, Nancy retired and moved to Jackson, Wyoming, to be near two of her children, Melanie and Allan, as well as her sister and brother-in-law. She would remain there for six years. Nancy says this about her time there, “I could see the Tetons outside my window. I absorbed all the beauty and power that nature provides–the quietness of the snowy days, the fierceness of the summer storms, the countless wildlife. These made wonderful memories for me.” Eventually, Melanie, her husband and Nancy’s first grandchild, Evie, moved to South Carolina. Also, her son Allan had moved to North Carolina. In 2017, Nancy moved from Wyoming to South Carolina so she could be close to them. However, when daughter Stephanie Brown moved to Memphis and became the mother of Joshua Brown, the motivation to move to Kirby Pines resulted in her joining the Kirby Family in February 2025. Joshua, now 20 months old, is Nancy’s second grandchild. Nancy soon became involved in many activities at Kirby Pines. She has taken art classes but hasn’t painted a picture in some time. She plays bridge twice a week and enjoys other card games. She is currently the Wing Leader for BWing. Nancy says, “I love the people here and I love living at Kirby Pines–especially seeing my family frequently. This is a happy time for me.” Written by Joan Dodson, Resident, Kirby Pines The Pinecone | June 2026 • 7 • According to Nancy Pickett, she has had “just a normal life.” If that is the case, then Nancy has had what many people would envy: loving parents, a happy childhood with a huge family to enjoy, a successful career, three wonderful children and two grandchildren. As with all of us, there have been some sad times in Nancy’s life. However, she believes that two principles have guided her throughout her life: “Try not to judge people” and “This, too, shall pass.” Nancy’s life began in 1951 when she was born in Union City, Tennessee; her family lived in the near-by community of Pleasant Valley. She joined a brother and sister; a younger sister would be born later but would die in infancy. Her father was a farmer, and her mother managed their home. The family lived in a beautiful, two-story house which her grandfather built in 1903. The large house was needed as eventually there would be ten children born to Nancy’s grandparents. This meant there were many aunts, uncles and cousins who still lived in the area or managed to return for family reunions. Christmas time was always a big occasion with at least 40 people returning to “grandma’s house” to celebrate! There was always a table or two of bridge being played for entertainment. Nancy remembers, “I enjoyed the game of bridge, but mostly I enjoyed the laughing and fun we had together.” “I had a great childhood,” recalls Nancy. “It was filled with simple things, nothing fancy. We had a huge garden which we shared with family members. I wish I could taste some of those delicious vegetables again! We sewed all of our clothes, even our coats. My aunt taught me how to knit and I made several sweaters to match my wool skirts. When I was 10 years old, a girl named Letha moved to our neighborhood, and we became BFF for many years. Together, we rode bikes, cooked and learned to play tennis on the public courts. My goal in life at that time was to beat her at tennis–something I never accomplished.” Nancy attended the public schools in Union City. When in high school, she played clarinet in the marching band and loved going to all the basketball games. In the summers, she worked in a local pharmacy. That experience and the fact that her older sister had become a pharmacist helped Nancy make the decision regarding her professional life. “I knew I didn’t want to teach school and I couldn’t be a nurse, so pharmacy seemed ideal for me,” admits Nancy. L E A D I NG A NORMA L L I F E Resident Spotlight: Nancy Pickett Young Nancy on the Left