Kim Elaine Pickell

KIM ELAINE PICKELL, 49, of Granger, Ind., died Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2006 at Elkhart General Hospital, after an apparent heart attack. She was born Oct. 31, 1957 in Fort Wayne, the daughter of Knight Neuhaus and Corinne Richards. She married Kenneth M. "Kenny" Pickell on Oct. 30, 1976 in Fort Wayne. She was an employee of Ventline in Bristol, Ind., where she manufactured RV parts for over 15 years. She was an avid animal lover, and she, along with her two children, were volunteers at "Pet Refuge" in Mishawaka, Ind., an organization which shelters wayward dogs and cats without utilizing euthenasia, She was also a "foster parent" to two dogs who came from the shelter, an Akita mix named Brewster and a chow mix named Quinn, Most of her free time was spent working at the shelter and participating in adoption events. She also loved the outdoors, and went camping and hiking when she could. Her favorite destination was the Great Smoky Mountains, and occaionally visiting the Cedar Point Amusment Park, in Ohio. Surviving are husband, Kenneth M. Pickell; son, Kelly S. Pickell of South Bend; daughter, Kristy H. (John) Boyd of Elkhart; sisters, Chris L. (Randy) Hirschey of New Haven and Erin L. Gomez of Antwerp; mother, Corinne L. (Jim) Hart of Fla.; and two grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her father, Knight Neuhaus. Visitation is from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart, Ind. Funeral Service at a later date. Online condolences to the family at www.billingsfuneralhome.com