Anna "Annie" Ruth Horton Pickett, 82 died Thursday July 6, 2023.

An Oklahoma City native, born on January 22, 1941 to parents Basil and Hazel (Lunsford) Horton.

Pickett graduated from Douglass High School in 1959. A dedicated graduate, Anna Ruth helped coordinate and organize class reunions under her favorite phrase, "Once A Trojan, Always A Trojan." She was raised in the original "Fairgrounds" area of the city. The neighborhood houses the present-day Douglass High School.

In the circles of Oklahoma City restaurant and food service life, "Annie", as she was known, was simply legendary. Her charismatic and dedicated style set the standard. At 18, she was working for OKC's historic Beacon Club. Her notoriety blossomed in the mid 1960's as a waitress for Val-Gene's Restaurant. She spent 19 years leading the service team for Jimmy Valiant and Gene Smeltzer's crème de la crème Val-Gene's at Penn Square Mall.

In 2004, she became a Hirst Hospitality Award recipient, presented by the Oklahoma Restaurant Association for her professional contributions for Val-Gene's.

By the early 80's, "Annie" provided her skill and talent for Hodges Trucking Co, a top energy industry company, guiding their illustrious dining room.

After a career hiatus, so she could care for her parents, Anna Ruth joined the dining service team at Twin Hills Golf and Country Club for the next 27 years. It was a quarter century-plus of pure Annie affections - "respect your diners, never meet a stranger and treat each person with the same dignity you expect from them." Annie retired from Twin Hills at the age of 77.

Anna Ruth married Dorsey Lee Pickett in 1961. They dissolved the marriage in 1969.

From the union four children were born - Steven, Andre, Derrick and Bridgette.

She also raised her loving granddaughters LaTasha, Kimberly and Brittany.

She is survived by her sons Steven (Rachel), Andre, Derrick, along with her brother Marshall Horton (Barbara), and a host of grandchildren and great grandchildren, including Latasha Pickett, Kimberly Hunter (Mike), Brittany Pickett, Patrick Pickett, DeAngelo Robles, Andre Pickett Jr. (Lindsey) Anesha Treadway, Syeed Pickett, Johnny Burris, Derrick Burris, and others.