Janet Ruth Pickens

Janet "Jan" Ruth (Whitney) Pickens, 83, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away in Idaho Falls, Idaho, on July 13, 2025, leaving a void in our lives that will be missed daily.

Jan was born in American Fork, Utah, on May 23, 1942, to Norman K Whitney and Ruth Melba (Borg) Whitney.

She loved the Lord and dedicated her life to following and serving in the Gospel. She enjoyed hiking, gardening, running, music, traveling, going for rides, doing genealogy, and serving in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, of which she was a member her whole life.

She graduated from high school in Bend, Oregon, in 1960 as the Prom Queen. Later, she attended Central Oregon College and Brigham Young University. She traveled all over Europe with her sister, Carol, before meeting and marrying Gy Pickens in Germany on June 2, 1966. She spent time in Oregon, Utah, Nevada, and Missouri before settling down for over 30 years in Washington state. Jan and Gy moved to Idaho for the last 7 years of her life to have better access to care.

She loved being a mother and having her family around her, and had fond memories of hiking with anyone who would go with her. Jan was a devoted mother and grandmother and loved spending time with the children. They are what helped keep her young at heart. She once said at a restaurant, at age 80, "Wow! Look at all these old people!" She never believed she was her actual age.

She passed away peacefully with Gy at her side after a 4-year journey with Alzheimer's disease. Up until the end, Jan remained happy to be wherever she was and delighted to see everyone around her.

She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Nan Whitney.

She is survived by her husband, Gy M. Pickens; four children: Kevin Gy (Ruth) Pickens of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Stacy Trent (Eneida) Pickens of Utah, Britt Rene Pickens of Ravensdale, Washington, and Shad Steven (DeAnna) Pickens of Sequim, Washington; 13 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren; and four siblings: Carol Still, Kay Whitney, Judy Thompson, and Brad Whitney who will never forget the love she brought to their lives.

Graveside Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 19, 2025, at Fielding Memorial Park Cemetery in Idaho Falls. The family will receive friends from 9:30-10:30 a.m., Saturday at Coltrin Mortuary, 2100 First Street, Idaho Falls. Condolences may be sent online at www.coltrinmortuary.com.

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