Joyce Marie Pickett, 75, passed away on Monday, August 24, 2026, at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with her sons by her side and their hands in hers, after years of health challenges.

Born in Wabash, Indiana, Joyce was the daughter of the late Paul and Martha (Eltzroth) Partridge. A lifelong learner with a wide range of interests and talents, Joyce graduated from New Haven High School in 1969 before earning a bachelor’s degree in speech pathology and a master’s degree in education from Indiana University Bloomington.

She began her career as a school speech pathologist and later worked with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities at the Indiana State Developmental Center, Your Friends and Neighbors, and other organizations. In 1992, Joyce returned to school, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from IPFW. She went on to spend more than 34 years at Fort Wayne Radiology in various accounting roles.

Joyce was creative, strong-willed, modest, exceptionally smart, and blessed with a joyful sense of humor. A natural storyteller with a remarkable memory for details, she could bring stories from years past to life, remembering the people, places, and little moments that others had long forgotten. Talented in numerous ways, she was also a published writer, loved to crochet, and could play both the piano and organ.
Her Christian faith was an important part of her life from a young age. As a teenager, she was active in her church’s youth group and participated in a mission trip to Costa Rica and Panama.
Nothing brought Joyce more joy than her family, especially her two beloved sons and four cherished grandchildren. She loved cheering them on at sporting events and school activities and supported them in all they did. She was a dedicated and dependable worker and someone who brought out the best in the people she cared for.
Joyce also had a generous heart for others. She devoted countless hours to Project Linus, crocheting blankets to provide comfort to children in need – a cause especially close to her heart. She also served for several years as coordinator of its Fort Wayne/Northeast Indiana chapter. Joyce volunteered with Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control and Special Olympics as well.
She had a special love for animals, especially giraffes, which she found uniquely beautiful, and accumulated a collection of hundreds of giraffe figurines, statues, knick-knacks, and pieces of art over the years. She also dearly loved and cared for her rescue greyhounds, Maggie and Vick, and her Chihuahua, Chaz and adored visits with her grandpooches, Bronx, DJ, Jeter, and Louie.

Joyce is survived by her sons, Joshua (Jill) Pickett and Jacob (Samantha) Pickett, both of Fort Wayne; her beloved grandchildren, Mariah, Monica, Hannah, and Logan Pickett; her siblings, Peggy Albertson (Stephen) of Fort Wayne and Dennis Partridge of New Haven; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family members with many of whom she shared special bonds. Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Davey and Randy Partridge.

Visitation will be held Thursday, September 3, from 5–8 p.m. at FairHaven Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 6557 N. Clinton St., Fort Wayne. Additional visitation will be held Friday, September 4, from 9–10 a.m., followed by a memorial service at 10 a.m. and a reception at FairHaven.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Project Linus of Fort Wayne/Northeast Indiana or the Fort Wayne Animal Care & Control Angel Fund.