JoAnn Hutchings Pickerel, 80, St. Joseph, MO
By: Gregory Hurt
Updated: January 25, 2013
She was born November 24, 1932. Her parents were Chester and Gladys (Wright) Hutchings. JoAnn was married to Jerome A. Pickerel (deceased) and together they raised three daughters.
She attended Hosea Elementary, Benton High School, and St. Luke's Nursing School. JoAnn had a long and successful career as a nurse serving at different times at Methodist Hospital, State Hospital, Sister's Hospital and as the Director of Nursing, she was instrumental in the design of Heartland East. In addition JoAnn proudly served as the President of the Missouri Nurses Association.
Friendships were essential to JoAnn including her sisters-in-law, her nearly lifelong participation in CAJ, her numerous close classmates from St. Luke's and colleagues throughout her nursing career. Upon retirement JoAnn and Jerry moved to Mountain Home, Arkansas where they established new friends and graciously welcomed the visits of family and others.
In addition to her passion for nursing, JoAnn enjoyed sewing, cooking, traveling and shopping.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and brother, William "Bill" Hutchings.
Survivors: daughters, Becky Pickerel (Rick) Breit, Liberty, Missouri, Amy Pickerel (Bedford) Moss, Irving, Texas, Carrie Pickerel (Irvin) Brooks, Liberty, Missouri; five grandchildren, Ericka Breit (Kyle) Eiserer, Kansas City, Missouri, Jerod Breit, St. Louis, Missouri, Michaela and Makana Brooks, Liberty, Missouri, Jackson Moss, Irving, Texas; and many other loving family members.
Mass of Christian Burial: 1:00 P.M. Saturday, St. James Catholic Church. The family will receive friends 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. Friday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory, with a sharing of memories at 6:30 P.M. and a rosary at 6:00 P.M., where friends may call after 3:00 P.M. Friday, Meierhoffer Funeral Home & Crematory. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to either Lewy Body Dementia Association (lbda.org) or Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care (kansascityhospice.org).

