Long-time Covite and businesswoman, Penney C. "Nanny" Vickers Rivers, passed away on November 17, 2024. She was born on February 14, 1939, to William Claude Vickers and Audrey Faye Atkinson Vickers in Houston. She grew up in Zwolle, LA, and graduated from Zwolle High School in 1956. After graduation, she attended college in Nacogdoches, TX, at Stephen F. Austin. Growing up, she worked for her parents in their grocery store and began delivering groceries at the age of 15.
Penney met her future husband, Jerry, in 1956 at the movie theater where he was the projectionist showing Gone with the Wind—and it was love at first sight. They married on January 27, 1957, and shortly after, Jerry joined the U.S. Army. They moved to Fort Huachuca, AZ, where they welcomed their first-born son, Richard. When Jerry was stationed in Korea, Penney and Richard returned to Louisiana. Just four short months later, Penney gave birth to their first baby girl, Sally, in 1959. It was a joyous reunion when Jerry returned, and the family was reassigned to Fort Jackson, SC, where they welcomed their second daughter, Becky, in 1961, and second son, Charlie, in 1963.
A few years later, they were stationed at Fort Polk, LA, and then moved to three different posts in Germany. Jerry served three tours in Vietnam while Penney and the children returned to Louisiana to live with Penney's mother and grandmother. In 1969, after Jerry's last tour, the Army permanently relocated the family to Fort Hood, TX. In 1972, they welcomed their last daughter, Jeri Lynn. Penney was overjoyed by this relocation because she was passionate about Texas and its history. Her family was one of the first eleven to receive land grants from Stephen F. Austin, and she was a proud member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. Penney was also a staunch Republican and took pride in her connections to President George W. Bush.
Throughout her life, Penney was a jack of all trades and never afraid to tackle any venture, especially when making money was involved. During their time in Texas, she became the first female insurance agent west of the Mississippi. She also worked at the commissary and at Zale’s Jewelers. Over the years, she embarked on numerous ventures and instilled the values of hard work and determination in her children. These ventures became family adventures, including delivering telephone books, selling costume jewelry, woodworking at craft shows, making and selling faux fur flowers, selling blue jeans in Nigeria and many more.
In 1979, Jerry and Penney purchased their first Copperas Cove business, The Bird Cage, followed by Skate World and, lastly, The Daisy Flower Shop. Penney became The Daisy’s heartbeat, working there for 44 years, greeting customers, sharing stories, and providing encouragement to soldiers. She was especially proud of The Daisy being a four-generation business and felt that the customers were part of her extended family. Penney also developed multi-generational relationships with her customers. Even with The Daisy, she and Jerry also ran a family venture making and selling sea crystal potpourri. Penney later fulfilled a lifelong dream when she wrote and published A Thumb in God's Eye.
Penney will be remembered for her large personality, love of life, humor, storytelling, and her compassion for others.
She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jerry; daughter, Sally Schoening; granddaughter, Michelle Stirnkorb; grandmother, Vida Atkinson; and best friends, Katie Irick, Irene Ashworth, Daphne Hughes, Chet and Dee Palmer and Woody and Lahoma Woodside.
She leaves behind a loving sister, Betty Elliott; children: Richard Rivers (Carol), Becky Stirnkorb (Karl), Charlie Rivers (Lynn), and Jeri Lynn Kreier (CJ); grandchildren: Stephanie Schoening, Christopher Schoening (Sarah), Mikayla Beeson-Merka (Autumn), Brooke Schulze (Tim), Danielle Rivers, Sarah Brown (Joonyr), Melanie Rivers (Erin), Hunter Kreier, Joshua Rivers (Gabrielle), Rachael Kreier (Joe), Katelyn Kreier (Christian), Elizabeth Rivers, Kaylee Rivera, Levi Rivers, and Carter Kreier, J.T. Irick (Leslie) and Sharif Irick (Lisa); and great-grandchildren: Alayna Robinson, Colton Schulze, Donte' Robinson, Amon Mondragon, Meekah Mondragon, Marleigh Mondragon, Alyssa Robinson, Aaliyah Brown, Collin Schulze, Xander Brown, Kinsley Young, Samuel Schoening, and great-grandbaby #10 due in December 2024, with great-grandbaby #11 expected in June 2025. She is also survived by her daughters and sons in love; Molly Erpenbach, Betty Price, Angela Thompson, Kristina Myers, Geri Drake, Jeff and Gaye Hooper, Jody Hodges, Allison Hughes, Bret and Jodi Anderson, Chrissy Kelly, Tracey Sims, Terri Wood and Candy Spickler and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends she adopted as family, including past and current employees of The Daisy. Special mention goes to her dear friend, Mr. Jim Moen, who brought joy, peace, and love to her life, and her beloved Bunco friends.
Visitation will be from 6–9 p.m. on Friday, November 22, 2024, at Crawford Bowers Funeral Home, Copperas Cove.
Her Celebration of Life BBQ Potluck will be on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at Holy Family Catholic Social Hall from 1–3:30 p.m.
Penney's Celebration will be like no other. The family is following her wishes, so come and enjoy her love, humor, and the celebration of her life. Please wear pink or bright colors to honor her memory, and bring your favorite dish.
Pallbearers will be Karl Stirnkorb, C.J. Kreier, Christopher Schoening, Tim Schulze, Aaron Brown, Joe Young, Sharif Irick, and Carl Schoening. Honorary Pallbearers will be Mike Sistrunk, Justin Sistrunk, Cory Sistrunk, John Sistrunk, J.T. Irick, Harold Oxendine, Jerry Martin, Dale Waltermeyer, Richard Raymer and Andrew Robinson.
Our family extends their sincerest gratitude to the staff and residents at The Meadows in Gatesville and the doctors and staff at Darnall Army Medical Center for the love and care they provided to our Nanny. She truly loved all of you.
Penney requested in lieu of flowers to make a donation by visiting: Penney "Nanny" Rivers's Memorial https://everloved.com/life-of/penney-rivers/obituary/
