Mary Ruth Pickrel

Mary Ruth Pickrel, 89, of Morton, Ill., formerly of Nevada, passed away on Sunday Feb. 3, 2008, at the Apostolic Christian Restmore Nursing Home, in Morton, Ill. She was born Jan. 1, 1919, in Callaway County, Mo., to George Herman Bell and Sarah Salmon Bell.

Mary was born and reared in Callaway County. She came to Nevada in her early 20s. She worked for the Nevada State Hospital for 38 years until her retirement at age 62. Shortly after her retirement, Mary moved back to Callaway County until 2002. She had lived in Illinois to be near her daughter for the past six years.

Survivors include one daughter, D. Yvonne Beckner and her husband Larry, of Peoria Ill.; eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one sister, Ruby Henderson, of Fort Scott, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Joe Pickrel, in 1979; two sons, Reiley Dawson and James Samuel Dawson; two brothers, Walker Bell and Ruben Bell; one sister, Gertrude Brown; one grandson Larry Berckner Jr., and one great-grandson, Andy W. Dockery.

Funeral services will he held at 2 p.m., on Friday, Feb. 8, at Ferry Funeral Home, in Nevada. Interment will follow in Moore Cemetery, in Nevada, with the Rev. Ralph Clark officiating. Friends may call now and until the hour of service. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m., Friday afternoon.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com.