Violet "Vicki" Blakey

Vicki was a most amazing lady who always put the needs of others first. Born in 1924 in Leeds, England named Violet, she was the youngest of three children born to her Latvian father and Eastern European mother. She spent most of her teenage years away at boarding school where she was not only a keen sportsperson but also rather mischievous. She shared many stories with us especially when she was confined to the bathroom in pitch darkness for 5 days for being accused of trying to burn the school down for bringing in indoor fireworks!! Vicki was a very tall and well built young lady and when she became a nurse in the Royal Navy, where she travelled all over the world to care for the sick and wounded, it was where she was no longer called her birth name of Violet but renamed as Vicki.At the end of the Second World War, she returned to England and that is where she met her late husband Cyril who was an American national. They married in 1947 and went on to have three children, Carol (who lives in Palm Harbor), Barbara (who lives in her native Leeds) and Michael (who lives in LA).Vicki was a keen sportsperson who was a champion swimmer, played hockey for the regional teams and an outstanding tennis player. Once the children were at school, she decided that it was time to learn to play golf and from that day onwards she could always be found on a golf course. It was her love of tennis, especially Wimbledon, which rubbed off on to Barbara and Vicki encouraged her to go to Wimbledon as a student. As mum always knew best, a ticket was bought for the centre court to watch stars such as Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert with the seat being directly under the score board. So every time the score was shown so was Barbara - a shame she should have been at work! –Vicki always enjoyed reliving this story and more recently added - if only there had been cell phones then!! She had a great sense of humour!At the age of 51, Vicki and Cyril emigrated from England to Spain where as being 100% teetotal ran a bar not knowing the difference between Whisky or Gin. However, she very quickly learned how to make the most amazing cocktails etc and then used her outstanding culinary skills by serving food, and the business went from strength to strength. In 1990, Cyril wanted to return to his homeland and they emigrated to Palm Harbor. Very quickly Vicki was a member of the golf clubs and was playing golf on a daily basis. She was invited to be the guest of so many players at many competitions and courses that Cyril ended up managing her golf diary!!Unfortunately, Vicki was widowed in 1992 but with her positive attitude and strong will, she grew in confidence and learned many new skills including setting up spreadsheets to support her role as a treasurer for one of the many clubs she belonged to. She became an avid bingo player as well as spending hours looking after Carol’s bull dogs. Even more recently she was learning to use an iPad. Vicki adored her gadgets – a trait that has been inherited by two of her grandchildren!Vicki was a fantastic daughter, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, sister and friend. A loving, kind, supportive, caring, determined, hard working, competitive and independent lady. She will be loved and missed by all who were fortunate enough to have known her. An impossible act to follow!! May her dear soul rest in peace.