Marilyn Pick

Marilyn Mershon Pick, aged 87, passed away peacefully in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on July 19, 2016. Marilyn was born November 27, 1928 in Independence, Missouri as the second of the eventual ten children of Roger Wilson and Mildred Pauline (Jones) Mershon. Marilyn grew up on the family farm near Buckner, Missouri. Her first eight years of education were at a one room schoolhouse, Reber School, and Marilyn graduated from Halls Memorial High School in Buckner in 1946. She attended the University of Kansas City and then transferred to the University of Missouri. In 1950, she graduated from the University of Missouri with a degree in home economics. While she was at the University of Missouri, Marilyn met fellow student Norman Pick, and they were married on June 14, 1950 near Buckner, Missouri. They lived briefly in Chicago, Illinois before moving to Ithaca, New York, where Norman pursued his degree in veterinary medicine. During that time, she was the dietician managing a cafeteria at Cornell University's Sage Hall. After Norman received his DVM in 1956, he and Marilyn moved to Gibson City, Illinois where Norman practiced large and small animal veterinary medicine. Marilyn ran the business part of the practice by handling phone calls, dispatching Norman to farms, scheduling appointments, and sending out invoices. She was a den mother in Cub Scouts and very active in small town civic life. She was President of the Auxiliary of the Eastern Illinois Veterinary Medical Association. In 1965, the Pick family moved to Mt. Prospect, Illinois because Norman took a new job with Wilson and Co., Inc. In 1970, Wilson relocated to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Norman and Marilyn moved there. Marilyn was a literacy volunteer at Hoover Middle School. She was an active volunteer for many years with Meals on Wheels at Village United Methodist Church, a member of Bible study groups, and a regular attendee at the early service. She was a home room mother many times. Norman and Marilyn became members of Quail Creek Golf and Country Club, and Marilyn remained a member until her death. She took up golf at age 51, became a member of the 9 hole group and then the 18 hole group. She played golf until the age of 83, getting a hole in one along the way. Marilyn enjoyed crafts including needlepoint, petit point, crochet, and crewel work. She traveled to every continent. She was a voracious reader and lifelong learner. More than anything, she loved to cook, entertain, and be a gracious hostess. Marilyn died of dementia/lymphoma on July 19, 2016. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Marilyn is survived by her son Roger (Mary-Louise) Pick; her daughter Julie (Gary) Vaughn; her grandchildren Randall (Amanda) Pick, Sarah (Ivan) Mendez, Meagan Pick, Andrea Vaughn, Jessica (Carter) Tamlyn; two great-grandsons, Norman and Roger Mendez; four brothers Ed (Pam) Mershon, Richard (Sue) Mershon, Tom (Janet) Mershon, and Jack (Priscilla) Mershon; two sisters Barb Querry and Linda (Bill) Powell; many nieces and nephews; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews. She was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, Norman Pick; an infant son, Stephen Pick; her parents; two brothers Waldo (Carolyn) Mershon and Jerry (Louise) Mershon; and a sister Joanne (Dean) Ehlers. A memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m. August 20 at Village United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (https://omrf.org/donation-form/) or Village United Methodist Church.