Jan Swallow Pickett Rich

1948 - 2026

Jan Swallow Pickett Rich
04/07/1948 - 02/04/2026
Jan Swallow Pickett Rich died February 4th, 2026 at her home in Granger, Texas surrounded by her family. A resident of Granger for over 38 years, she was recognized as an outstanding nurse, a committed friend, and a person who sought to bring joy to others.
Jan was born on April 7, 1948, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her parents were Ned Swallow and Meredith Schermerhorn Swallow. Upon her family's move to Midland, Texas, she attended Midland public schools where she graduated from Midland High School in 1966
Her early sense of wanting to be a nurse, she chased her dream early on when she served as a Candy Striper, an organization that often provided high school students with their first taste of becoming nurses. She attended Texas Christian University Harris School of Nursing, later transferring to Scott and White School of Nursing where she completed her nursing diploma. Later, she earned a BSN In nursing from West Texas State University (now West Texas A&M). She then earned a Masters Degree in Nursing from New York University, having graduated with honors at each level.
Summer vacations with her parents and brothers Jack and Chuck visiting grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, and the farm in Wisconsin were part of her favorite memories. Jan realized the awe of nature while attending Mitre Peak Girl Scout Camp in the Davis Mountains of west Texas. She was chosen by the Southwestern University members of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity as their Dream Girl.
Immediately following graduation, she began a lifelong career serving Southwestern University and other hospitals in Georgetown, Brackenridge Hospital in Austin, Midland Memorial Hospital in Midland, Methodist Hospital in Lubbock, Saint Vincent's Hospital in New York City, and Scott and White Hospital in Temple. Jan developed particular passions for cardiac care, oncology, pain management, and hospice care.
While serving as a nurse, Jan dedicated herself to teaching numerous aspects of nursing to others who had the same dream and passion for helping others. She was honored at every hospital and in her field, including, in 1992 when she was recognized with the Nursing and Patient Advocate Award by the American Nursing Association at its national convention.
Forbes contributing editor Joanne Gordon, in interviewing Jan for her book, Be Happy at Work – 100 Women Who Love Their Jobs and Why, Jan spoke of her administrative and teaching roles, but said, "I missed the clinical part of the job. Working one-on-one with women was always where I got the greatest satisfaction." She added, "My role is to think about the real world, how their disease and treatment is affecting their whole psychological, spiritual, and physical being."
She married Perry Denny Pickett, Jr., on June 7th, 1970, and supported him in his career as an artist and instructor. Being in nature with Denny while he was painting was her greatest joy. They were married for over 40 years until his death in 2010. Their marriage was blessed with a son, Joseph Tyrone (Ty) Pickett, born in 1974. Together they enjoyed traveling, involvement in community activities as volunteers, and building deep friendships in every place they lived. Each move led her to active involvement within the communities in which they lived. The death of her son, Ty allowed for a time of significant personal growth.
She was a member of Unitarian Universalist Church of the Hill Country and a member and past president of the Granger Study Club.
Jan later married Chuck Rich of Granger in 2024 and they enjoyed two wonderful years together hiking through the state parks in the Hill Country until his death earlier this year.
Jan was loved by her extended family and many, many friends, particularly her Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority sisters. She loved her son, Ty and grandchildren, Sebastian and Ahren deeply and took great pride in all their accomplishments.
Jan is survived by: a grandson Sebastian Pickett and his wife Mikka Boswell of Oklahoma and their children Stevie Kay Valerie and Grace Elaine; by her grandson Ahren Pickett, of Austin; her daughter-in-law Telisha Rountree; her brothers, Jack Swallow and his wife, Julia of Midland, Chuck Swallow and his wife, Jody of Kerrville, and a whole bunch of nephews and nieces. She is also survived by several cousins in Wisconsin: Kim Swallow, Kathleen Rahn, Kristy Torres, Mark Schermerhorn, Jill Schermerhorn, Patti Meisel, Greg Schermerhorn, and their families, as well as Chuck Rich's daughter, Emilia Rich and her husband, David Schulte of Austin. She is also survived by 60-year friend Margaret Blagg of Brownwood and Clayton Hubbard of Fredericksburg.
Her family thanks Concho Hearts Hospice for their care of Jan and her loved ones. A celebration of life for Jan Pickett will be held at a later date.