Ellen Anna Clancy Pickering

Ellen Anna Clancy Pickering passed away in the care of her children on Saturday, December 23, 2023.  She was 99 years old.  Ellen was born and baptized in Baltimore, Maryland.  She was the third of thirteen children born to John A. and Ellen Joy Clancy.  Her family returned to Knoxville when she was a child, and she has been a resident of Knoxville since.  She was raised in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and attended St. Mary School and Knoxville Catholic High School.  She worked at St. Mary’s Hospital where she met and fell in love with Stanley H. Pickering.  They were married in 1951 and celebrated 69 years together before his death in 2020.  They had eight children who were the center of Ellen’s life.  Ellen was a proud homemaker devoting every moment to God, her husband’s accounting practice, her children and her home.  She shared her gift of faith with her children who endeavor to follow her example still.

Ellen is preceded in death by her husband Stan, her sons John Clancy Pickering and Frank Gambill Pickering, her sisters Teresa Irwin, Mary Williams, Joy Carden, Annunciata Nutter and Frances Noe and brothers Joe, John and Tom Clancy.  She is survived by sons Stanley II (Kathryn) and Jim (Stephanie) and daughters Ellen Hunter (Bob), Judy, Angel Brewer (Bill) and Regina Lovelace (William), daughter-in-law Leticia Pickering, grandchildren Natalie Berra (Tory), Patrick Pickering, Thomas Pickering, Stan Pickering III, Clancy Clementi (Craig), Rob Hunter, Caroline Hunter, Stan Pickering Hunter, Jim Hunter, Leticia Natour (Joey), Frank Pickering, Jr. (Jenny), John Clancy Pickering, Will Brewer (Becca), William Edward Lovelace, Suzanna Pickering and Walter Pickering.   She is also survived by great grandchildren Gigi, Sadie and Baby Clementi (Feb. 2024), Penelope and George Clancy Brewer, Frank III and Baby Pickering (Jan. 2024), Olivia and George Natour, brothers Walter Clancy, Dan Clancy and sister Pat Clancy Winter.  

Receiving of friends on Wednesday, December 27, 2023, from 5:00-7:00 PM with Rosary at 7:00 PM led by Father John O’Neill at Mynatt Funeral Home Fountain City Chapel.  Funeral Mass will be at 11:30 AM on Thursday, December 28, 2023, at Holy Ghost Catholic Church, celebrated by Father John Dowling.  Burial to follow at Calvary Cemetery. Pallbearers will be William Edward Lovelace, Walter Pickering, John Pickering, Thomas Pickering, Stan Hunter and Jim Hunter.  Memorial gifts may be made to Tennessee Right to Life or the East Tennessee Veterans Honor Guard. Online condolences may be left at www.mynattfh.com

“I am the Good Shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me.  Just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father, and I will lay down my life for the sheep.”           John 10:14-18