Obituary of Cynthia Pickens

Cynthia M. Pickens (Pearson) Age 61. Passed away Saturday, January 25, 2014 at the Landmark Hospital in Missouri. Born July 12, 1952 in Joliet, IL. She attended Joliet Central H.S. and lived most of her life as a resident of Joliet, IL. On November 7, 1970, Cindy married the late Ronnie J. Pickens. They were married for 35 years. She and Ronnie were the proud parents of their only child, Tammie J. (Pickens) Shaw. Cindy worked for the Illinois State Police Crime Lab in Joliet until 1991, and she was a member of the First Church of God. In addition, she had a deep love for her family, especially her grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ronnie J. Pickens; parents, Richard Pearson and June (Borg) Flanagan; her sisters, Sandra Kennedy and Debra (Flanagan) Dobson (January 27, 2014); and step-father, Ernest (Cotton) Flanagan Sr. She is survived by her daughter, Tammie J. Shaw (Derek) of Marion, IL; brother, Gary Soerensen of Los Angeles, CA; sister, Merri Norris of McHenry, IL; brother, Ernest Flanagan Jr. of Nashville, TN; eight grandchildren, Corryne, Nathaniel, Bethany, Caleb, Micah, Emma, Abigail, and Sophia Shaw; she also leaves behind her mother-in-law; two brothers-in-law; and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation for Cynthia M. Pickens will be held at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black at Essington Rds., Joliet on Thursday, January 30, 2014 from 5-7 p.m. with the celebration of life service following at 7:00 p.m. The Reverends Carl Wagner and Derek Shaw will be officiating. A private internment service will be held at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL on Friday, January 31, 2014. For more information: (815)741-5500 or www.fredcdames.com