Wilhelmina Claire “Willie” Pickett

Wilhelmina Claire “Willie” Pickett, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, teacher, and friend, passed away peacefully in her home in Mesa, Arizona, on August 19, 2026, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 81 years old.

Willie was born September 16, 1944, in Long Beach, California, to Willis F. and Nena T. Nielson. She was the oldest of three children, growing up with her younger siblings, Marijane Call (Bruce) and Stanford Nielson (Judy Parker). Her family later made their home in Mesa, Arizona, where Willie attended Mesa High School and graduated with the Class of 1962.

Following high school, Willie attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, graduating in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Clothing and Textiles, with minors in Art, Business Management, and Chemistry. A lifelong learner, she continued her education throughout her career, completing her teaching certification in Home Economics Education and pursuing postgraduate studies at several universities. She later earned a master’s degree in administration from Nova University.

On September 9, 1967, Willie married Michael Terry Pickett in the Mesa Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Together they made their home and raised their family in Mesa. They were the parents of two children; Michael Todd Pickett and Shondelle V. Hales. Willie and Mick shared nearly 47 years of marriage before his passing on February 24, 2014.

Education was one of the defining pursuits of Willie’s life. She began her teaching career in Idaho Falls, Idaho, teaching Home Economics at O.E. Bell Junior High School and later Bonneville High School. After returning to Mesa, she taught Child Development and Life Management and served as a department chair and preschool director for Mesa High School.

Willie’s parents, Willis and Nena, owned and operated Nielson Travel, and Willie and Mick worked with them in the business for a time. Willie wrote and directed tours with her mother Nena, and that experience reflected the close family ties that remained important to Willie throughout her life.

Willie later worked with the Arizona Department of Education as a vocational education specialist. In 1989, she returned to Mesa High School, where she spent many years teaching Family and Consumer Sciences, Early Childhood Professions, and Child Development. She directed the school’s licensed preschool and helped train and mentor future teachers. Her career in education spanned more than three decades, influencing generations of students, young children, parents, and fellow educators.

Willie’s faith in Jesus Christ was central to her life. A devoted member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she served extensively in both ward and stake Primary and Young Women organizations, provided compassionate service through the Relief Society, and was a faithful and reliable ministering sister to many throughout her life. She quietly found countless ways to care for those around her. To many in her neighborhood and church community, Willie was simply known as “the treat lady.” Whether you stopped by her home or she showed up at yours, she rarely came empty-handed. There was always a treat, a gift, or some small expression that let you know she had been thinking about you. Giving was simply part of who Willie was.

Her family will also remember the traditions that were uniquely hers. Christmas wasn’t quite Christmas without Willie’s Christmas-tree-shaped seven-layer dip, and family breakfasts meant Eggs Goldenrod. These traditions—and many others—became part of the fabric of family life and will continue to bring memories of her to the table for years to come. Perhaps nothing better demonstrated Willie’s devotion to her family than the final months of her life. While battling pancreatic cancer, she chose to undergo chemotherapy in large part because she had an important goal: she wanted to be home to welcome her granddaughter Marlee home from her mission. That determination reflected what mattered most to Willie throughout her life—her faith and her family.

Willie was preceded in death by her parents, Willis F. and Nena T. Nielson; her beloved husband, Michael Terry Pickett, who passed away February 24, 2014; and her son, Michael Todd Pickett, who passed away September 17, 2018. She is survived by her daughter, Shondelle V. Hales (Jason J. Hales); daughter-in-law, Penni Pickett Labonte; her siblings, Marijane Call (Bruce) and Stanford Nielson (Judy Parker); and her grandchildren: Nicole Newton (Greg), Kristine Pickett, Zoe Pickett, Macy Bice (McKay), Porter Hales (Aubrey), Marlee Hales, Addison Hales, and Sadie Hales. She was also the proud great-grandmother of Olivia and Beau Newton.

Willie leaves behind a legacy that cannot be measured simply by the years she lived or the positions she held. It lives on in the students she taught, the teachers she mentored, the neighbors she served, the people she ministered to, and especially in the family she loved so deeply. Those who knew Willie will remember her generosity, her faith, her determination, and the seemingly endless supply of treats and gifts through which she made people feel remembered and loved.

Funeral services will begin with a viewing on Friday, August 28, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the LDS church located at 2835 E. Des Moines Street, Mesa, Arizona 85213. A second viewing will be held on Saturday, August 29, 2026, from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. at the same church, followed by funeral services at 11:00 a.m. Willie will be buried next to Michael at Mesa Cemetery. A graveside dedication will take place immediately following the funeral services at 1:00 p.m. Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.