Eleanor McDonald Pickle

Eleanor McDonald Pickle, 96, of Knoxville, passed away in her sleep as Easter was dawning on Sunday, April 1, 2018. Born April 6, 1921, to Marion McDonald and Lela Fern Miles Pickle, she grew up in Burlington in East Knoxville. She attended Fairgarden Elementary and Park Junior High and graduated from Knoxville High School in 1939. After high school, she worked for George’s Department Store on Gay Street, then Toole Candy Co., which later became Tobacco Sales. She retired from Creswell Office Supply. She was a loving, longtime caregiver to her mother, and she happily entertained her nephews and niece as they were growing up. After retirement, she became a thrift-store ace and sought out treasures for the next generation of Pickles. She served as secretary for Ye Olde Burlington Gang for more than two decades. She was baptized at First Baptist Church on Easter Sunday 1977 and was a faithful member of the Wynnward Sunday School Class. After a fall in 2004, she moved into Hillcrest South, now Island Home Park Health & Rehab. She rekindled an interest in Catholicism, converted and became a member of Holy Ghost Catholic Church on Dec. 3, 2006. At Island Home Park, she was president of the Residents’ Council for many years and enjoyed bingo, art activities and word puzzles. She befriended every employee with whom she came in contact, and they all became devoted to her. The family would like to thank the staff for their kind and loving attention to her through the years. She was preceded in death by her parents, Marion M. and Lela Fern Pickle; brother, Marion M. Pickle Jr.; beloved nieces-in-law Judy Mynatt Pickle and Maureen Roberson Pickle; and close friend Evelyn Coile Mynatt. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Mary Eleanor Jones Pickle, nephews Marion M. “Mac” Pickle III (Judy), Robert Pickle (Amy), Joe Pickle (Lori Edwards), all of Knoxville; and Eddie Pickle (Megan) of Fairfax, Va., niece Betsy Pickle of Knoxville; great-nephews Greg (Tracee), Gary (Katie), Eric, all of Knoxville; Rob (Hana Beckerle) of Arlington, Va., and Kyle (Brittany Bailey) of Maryville; great-nieces Kathryn Pickle of Knoxville and Annie Pickle of New York City; two great-great-nephews; five great-great-nieces; several cousins; and special friends Martha Wilcox of Alexandria, Va., and Nancy Burnett of Knoxville. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. and a Christian Prayer Service at 11 a.m. Friday, April 6, at Rose Mortuary, 1421 N. Broadway. Father John Dowling of Holy Ghost will officiate at the prayer service as well as the Christian Burial at 12:30 p.m. at Woodlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name to Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee are humbly suggested. Arrangements are by Rose Mortuary.

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Eleanor McDonald Pickle

April 6, 1921 - April 1, 2018