Lee William Vickers, 87 years old, of Cushing, Oklahoma, passed away in his home on August 28, 2014, with his family by his side. Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on September 1, 2014, at First Assembly of God Church in Cushing, OK. Interment will follow at the Parkland Cemetery.
Lee William Vickers, son of Arnold Lee and Anna Katherine (Heizelman) Vickers was born September 26, 1926 in a little log cabin, near a creek in Lincoln County, OK. Lee attended Valley Center and Kendrick High School, graduating in 1945.
Soon after graduation, he was called to serve in the US Army, June 1945 until October 1947. After serving a tour of duty in Germany, he returned to the family farm. His dad was interested in purchasing additional land. Lee told him he would help him buy the farm.
During this time, he met and fell in love with Mary Lois Messer. With only $100 still owed on the purchase of the additional land, Lee told his dad, he was going to leave his horse and saddle with him as payment and get married. Lee and Mary were married on August 12, 1950 in Davenport, OK and moved to San Pedro, California. There Lee began learning the carpentry trade from his brother-in-law, John Earnest. Lee worked most of his lifetime as a carpenter, having joined the Carpenters Union in 1952 and still today remains a member.
In 1962, Lee, Mary and their two children, Carolyn Sue and Boyd Lee returned to Oklahoma, making their home in Cushing, OK. Lee continued working as a carpenter/foreman, and enjoyed working on the commercial projects on the OSU campus, ORU campus, buildings in downtown OKC and Stillwater Technology Center.
Lee’s son, Boyd, began working with him on the job-sites during his High School summers. After an injury fall on an icy morning, Lee could no longer work the high rise projects. He and Boyd began working as finish carpenters building cabinets and trim work. For many years, they worked for Hauptfleisch Construction.
In 1980, Lee and Mary moved to the family farm in Lincoln County. Lee’s grandfather, Albert Heizelman, staked the property during the OK Land Run. Lee and Mary farmed until 2001, when they sold the farm and returned to Cushing. Mary had developed Alzheimer’s. Lee devoted his life to taking care of Mary and was able to keep her at home for as long as her health would allow. Mary was hospitalized in December 2006 and passed away January 11, 2007.
Lee and Mary attended First Assembly of God Church’s in Cushing, Kendrick, Stroud, and returning to Cushing’s church in 2001. Lee became a part of a few early attendees on Sunday mornings that met to visit, talk about the weather and hear how Johnny’s garden was doing. Lee was so pleased when granddaughter Kristin, married into a farming family. Kristin and Ben blessed him with two little boys, Hayden and Holden. He was happy the boys were being raised on the farm. Lee had the Ford tractor that his dad had purchased new. After leaving the farm, he gave the Ford tractor to his great-grandsons.
On May 26, 2010, Boyd passed away unexpectedly. This was a loss that shattered Lee. His comment was “It was hard losing Mary, but losing Boyd is something that I don’t ever think I will get over.” Carolyn began spending Friday nights at her Dad’s. While Carolyn was always a “Daddy’s Girl”, their relationship continued to grow. Lee shared so many of his life stories with her. She set him up with an iPhone and he learned how to return text messages, enjoyed receiving pictures of the great grandkids and checking the weather forecasts.
Lee was fascinated with the information available on the Internet. Almost every week-end, Lee had something he wanted to explore. He was excited when Carolyn located an Army buddy living in Texas. Lee called him and they enjoyed their conversation. They talked a few more times after that.
Lee was blessed with a family that loved him tremendously. Lee was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Vickers; son, Boyd Lee Vickers; and brother, Raymond Vickers. He is survived by his daughter, Carolyn and husband, Bob Annis of Choctaw, OK; granddaughter, Kristin and husband Ben Nowakowski of McLoud, OK; grandson, Eric Lee Vickers of Moore, OK; granddaughter Heather Gallardo, Cushing, three great-grandsons, Hayden Nowakowski, Holden Nowakowski, Boyd Lee Gallardo; and one great-granddaughter, Nora Gallardo; Sisters-in-law, Bernice DeWitt, Tecumseh, OK; Wanda Treanor, Stroud, OK; Bettie Sue Messer, Stroud, OK; and several cousins. He is also survived by many of Mary’s nieces and nephews in OK, CA, IL, and CO of which he is very close.
The last few weeks, Lee and his family, were blessed to have caring and loving caregivers.
Memorials may be made to First Assembly of God Church, 504 E Walnut, Cushing, OK.
Services are under the direction of Palmer Marler Funeral Home, Cushing.
