Susan Pickering Blanton RN

Susan Pickering Blanton, RN

Susan Pickering Blanton departed this life on January 12, 2021 after a long illness. Susan was a vibrant spirit, a loving daughter, sister, wife, stepmom and friend. She was a wicked smart nurse, an artist, and a raconteur with a razor-sharp wit.

Born in Charlottesville, Virginia, the third of four children, Susan was proud of her Southern heritage and became an avid genealogist from a young age. She was an active member of the Asheville #104 chapter of the UDC, and the Edward Buncombe Chapter of the DAR where she held multiple officer positions. With early interests in art and science as well, Susan won awards for her portraiture. That led her to attend the University of Cincinnati where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She worked at Mars Hill University in Mars Hill, NC, in both the media center and registration. Susan moved to Minnesota, where she attended William Rainey Harper College of Nursing, gained her nursing degree, and worked at the Mayo Clinic. From there, she worked as an RN in Florida and Asheville, NC. She was an avid member of the Junior League of both Gainesville, FL and Asheville, NC.

In Asheville, Susan worked as a critical care nurse at both Memorial Mission/St. Joes and ParkRidge hospitals. Always eager to grow, Susan left hospital work to become an award-winning sales rep for Sanofi Pharmaceuticals, but never lost her love of nursing.

Susan was a devout member of Biltmore Baptist Church where she met the love of her life, Michael E. Blanton. In April of 2013, Susan and Mike joyfully married. To her great delight, she became a stepmom.

Susan was preceded in death by her parents, James H. and Annie Lou Ferguson Pickering. She is survived and mourned by her husband, Michael E. Blanton and his children, Chris Blanton of Asheville, NC, Chad and Sarah Blanton of Scottsdale, AZ; Ben and Chelsea Blanton Hayes of Flat Rock, NC; and Scott and Caitlin Blanton Stills of Asheville, NC, and their families. Also mourning her are her brother David Charles Pickering and his children Lauren and Michael Pickering of Columbus, OH; her brother John Thomas Pickering and his fiancée Benn Edney Fass, Asheville, NC; and her sister and brother-in-law, Ralph W. and Jeanne Pickering Adams and their children, Cooper and Quinnton Adams, Potomac, MD; as well as her step-siblings, B. Jefferson and Charlotte Clark of Durham, NC; Victoria Clark and Thomas Reidy of New York, NY; and Roderic Clark and Lizzie Nichols of San Francisco, CA, and their families.

Due to current conditions, the family will be waiting until Fall to hold a celebration to honor Susan's life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to The Daughters of the American Revolution, Special Gift Designation, Genealogical Research. You can do this online at www.DAR.org/giving/support-program-your-choice and scroll down to Friends of Genealogy. As you check out, there is a place to indicate the memorial nature of your gift. You do not have to be a DAR member to donate to this fund.

If you prefer to use a Check, it should be made out to NSDAR. Please include a note either on the web or in your envelope indicating the gift is for Friends of Genealogy in memory of Susan Pickering Wachter Blanton, NSDAR #754404 Mailed donations may be sent to DAR, Office of Development, 1776 D Street NW, Washington, DC 20006.