Frances Wells-Picken, 103, of Oskaloosa, passed away on September 12, 2024, at the Mahaska Health Hospice Serenity House.
Frances LaRue Vermillion, daughter of Fred Leroy and Minnie May Deshler Vermillion, was born December 6, 1920, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. She attended Oskaloosa schools through the second grade. In 1928, her mother died when Frances was only seven years old. After her mother’s funeral service, her father consented to a two-week stay the coming summer with her mother’s friends, Tom and Esther Randell Gullick of Wright, IA. They had lost a daughter, Frances’ age, and had another daughter, Gladys, one year younger than Frances. The two weeks turned into a whole summer, and Frances continued to stay with the Gullick family and attend school in Cedar with Gladys through High School, graduating in 1938. The Gullicks loved Frances as one of their own; she was treated like a real family member in every respect, and Gladys was Frances’ only “sister”. When she could help, she spent time with Esther’s sister’s family, David and Mary Gwin, who lived 3 ½ miles south of Cedar. Mary was equally kind, and Frances learned many things from her. As a result, a bond of affection with the Randells and the Moores – their relatives – remained throughout her life.
Following high school, Frances married Claude Gordon Wells on July 31, 1938, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA. Frances earned a teaching certificate from Wm. Penn College and taught 6th Grade in New Sharon from 1957 to 1959. She returned to Wm. Penn, where she earned a degree in Elementary Education in 1961, subsequently teaching 9th grade at Oskaloosa Junior High through 1976. Claude died in January 1978 after 39 years of marriage. She was blessed to become reacquainted with a Cedar High School classmate, Donald Picken; they were married on September 9, 1988, in Estes Park, CO. They resided in Oskaloosa and spent many winters in Clearwater, FL. Donald died on December 4, 2006.
Frances was a lifetime member of the Mahaska County Historical Society and the Mahaska Humane Society; a 50-year member in 1992 of the Eastern Star, Universe Chapter 105 in What Cheer; Delta Kappa Gamma- Rho Chapter of Oskaloosa; Chapter IO of P.E.O. and Central United Methodist Church. She loved classical music, enjoyed playing golf, reading, and being with family and friends.
Her memory will be cherished by daughter Sue Ellen Wells of Franklin, WI, and an “adopted daughter” Judy Luellwitz of Franklin, WI; her grandchildren: Jo Dee Amundson of Ames, IA, James Shawn DeReus of Georgia, and Jon Richard DeReus of Ankeny, IA, six great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; beloved step-children Rex and Becky Picken of Grain Valley, MO, their children and grandchildren; dear friends and dedicated helpers Linda Cohrt and Ryan Colter of Oskaloosa; special neighbors, the Jacob and Brittany DeCook family of Ottumwa, IA.
Besides her parents and husbands, Frances was preceded in death by a beloved daughter, Julia Ann DeReus, brothers John and George Vermillion, sister-in-law Joyce Andrews, and lifelong friend Margaret White.
Private family graveside services will be conducted at a later date. Memorials may be made to Mahaska Health Hospice Serenity House or The Golden Goose Club.
