Deb:  I cannot even imagine the pains having both of your parents
sprout wings at the same time.  (almost anyway).  My heart is breking with the Loss of Gary - Relieved (as you are Im sur) tht they are not in pain any longer.  Your parents help build a foundation that helped me throughout life.  I smile when I think of "Mrs Vicki and Mr Jerry"  They were one of a kind and Im sure enjoyng home with the Lord.  Hugs and God Bless.  They are proud - Well done good an faithful servant." Love - Love and special memories.  


I met Vickie High over 40 years ago. I remember that she and Jerry helped the youth group host a formal dinner for our parents. They had tables set up all over their house and the youth served their parents. I also had the pleasure of working with Vickie at church. She volunteered to work with the Sparks group of children with me. She was also the financial secretary as well as in charge of ordering supplies.  She was amazing, cost conscious, and detailed oriented. Another special thing about Vickie is that she seemed to know everyone. If you needed a plumber, a tax person, any type of repair person, or a book that was out of print...Vickie was the person to ask. I was constantly amazed at her vast resources. She was also missions minded. One of our last conversations was catching up on all the missionaries we had supported over the years. I truly loved Jerry and Vickie and they will always hold a special place in my heart. They were both such a loving and godly example to all!

Mom - a simple word so full of meaning!  I don't have the eloquence to say what deserves to be said so I will share some of my favorite memories:
Baking cookies especially at Christmas
All the special birthday cakes she made and decorated for us growing up
Watching and learning how she did it 
Never mastering icing roses - eating the ones she didn't need
Hot coffee in a red plaid thermos on car trips
Putting my hair in a ponytail - ouch!
Rarely saying no to sleepovers with my best friends
Being proud of her in her crisp blue and white nurses aid uniform
Tall hair wrapped in toilet paper
Fun times whenever she was with her sisters
Cleaning the house weekly - on schedule - no matter what
Sewing clothes for us
Learning Stretch & Sew together
Taking the boys and eating Thanksgiving & Christmas lunches at Murchison Middle School where she was the cafeteria manager
Campbell's bean and bacon soup for lunch
Going to college our last two years of high school
Always available to keep her grandsons
Always being home when we got home from school
Cleaning our church together in the wee hours of the morning
How generous she was
I could go on and on......but I will end with her example of faithfully attending worship every week and pointing us to the Giver of life - Jesus Christ , Who makes it possible for us to one day be reunited for all of eternity!  I love you, Mom!




I  thought of my Aunt Viv as "the one who got away"!  My mother & her other siblings stayed in southern Illinois while "Vicky" went off & traveled the world.   She was a role model for me in that way.  Favorite memories:  being a flower girl in her wedding to her handsome Air Force pilot, Jerry High; "swimming" in the intersections of their neighborhood in Tampa, Fla. after the daily rain; holding twins Deb & Mark when they were brought in dresser drawers from Florida to visit "home";  having my first sip of a "Velvet Hammer" when baby-sitting for them in Plattsburgh, NY, when I was about 14 & the adults (including my mom) were going to a New Year's Eve party on the base;  visiting them all four in Brussels when I was living in Paris; having AV/UJ fly back for my wedding in New York, bringing me fresh Belgian chocolates.  Once they'd "retired" to Austin, we visited from Houston.   I would sometimes show up at Easter with lamb chops which were diligently cooked and served, with Aunt Viv never telling me she didn't really like lamb.  I moved back to New York & they came to see me on my farm upstate; I'm sure not  expecting to be put to work!  AV and my mother picked my strawberries while I made jam & UJ weed-whacked!  Aunt Viv & I shared a love of gardens--fruits, vegetable & flowers; she took some of my favorite irises back to Texas--a fail safe.   We met once in Illinois for a family reunion & ended up in the peach orchards, filling the back seat of their car so AV & UJ could take bushels home to Texas. She was a remarkable woman whose love for her husband was deep & strong.  She nursed him through extended difficulties--and was determined to outlive him so she could be there for him through all--but her own health struggles became too much to bear.   She chose to leave a body that was no longer inhabitable, with faith that she would ascend to her heavenly home.  She was the last of her siblings to go.  Uncle Jerry followed her soon after; both are missed so!

Vickie was such an elegant lady. I never saw her have a bad hair day! I hope I age as gracefully as she did. And with such a cheery smile on her face! My main memory of Vickie was the part she did in my wedding in 1987. She took care of the food and was wonderful at getting it all organized and providing me with a "to go basket" of the food! As I looked at all the pictures on this site I'm amazed at her beauty that oozed from inside to brighten her already beautiful exterior!

This is a continuance of another memory that was too long for the parameters defined here. 
Like all neighbors, we swapped favors and foods and recipes. I'd help Jerry with his mower now and then, and they'd take care of our critters when we were out of town. We shared meals and an occasional glass of wine. We quickly discovered that the dinner hour at Vicki's table was firmly scheduled. Maybe a remnant of Jerry's military days. We were a bit more laid back. The last time they visited for supper the menu included chicken and dumplings and turnip greens. I figured I needed a salad course as that was the tradition at their table. What wine pairs with that meal?  Who cares. Vicki and I had red and Jerry and Julie shared a sweet white. They were both a bit unfamiliar with the turnip greens and the delicious broth that comes with it called pot liquor/licker, (take your pick). I told Vicki that it was very acceptable to pick up your bowl and slurp the broth. Jerry's response when she did is a memory I'll cherish to my end. He said, in a somewhat starchy, formal manner, “What are you doing?” Vicki just kept slurping. We miss her tremendously!
Morgan and Julie Wertman

We met Vicki just a few years ago when we parked a truck loaded with our lives, and two dogs and a cat, in front of her house as we prepared to move in across the street. It was no time before this elegant, down to earth lady came with her husband and a plate of cookies to welcome us to the neighborhood. Both Vicki and Jerry volunteered their help to unload. Given my perception of their age, I was a bit uncomfortable with the idea. That was the last time I was not completely comfortable around them. I think Vicki saying, "You're not going to play that old age card on us are you," was a real ice-breaker. The next thing I knew Vicki was on her hands and knees scrubbing out cabinets and Jerry was making trips up and down the ramp of the truck. Our fondness of them grew as strongly as did our friendship. We were neighbors and friends. Vicki’s independent flare was always there. I recall trying to help with a mulching job, but she wouldn't hear of it and before I realized, she and Jerry had put down over seventy bags. I'm going to stop this here as the character limit won't allow me to finish as intended. I'll try to tack on the remainder in  another memory. Morgan and Julie Wertman

I guess my earliest memory of Aunt Viv was getting to be a flower girl in her wedding at First Christian Church in Murphysboro.  That was my grandfather's church and the church where I still attend.  We carried a little white basket with rose petals in it.  I often played with that basket years later.  I can still remember the blue dress my cousin and I wore for the ceremony.  Then as time went on, I remember when the twins were born.  It was an exciting time when Aunt Viv and Uncle Jerry brought them to Southern Illinois to meet the family.  I remember visiting with her in different parts of the country as they moved to various bases.  I think my favorite time was when they had to relocate as Uncle Jerry had an assignment in Viet Nam.  They moved to Murphysboro for that year and lived just a few blocks from where I lived with her sister, Aunt Mae and Uncle Gene.  I spent almost every morning sitting in her kitchen drinking coffee and listening to stories of when  she and her sisters and brother lived on the farm.  She cooked Christmas dinner that year and we all came together and celebrated at her house.  Uncle Gene found a pearl in her oyster dressing.. What excitement that was!  He had a pearl tie tack made and I still have it.  That was one of the best years of my life as I loved just being with her and hearing her reminisce about the good ole days.  They left again; this time for an overseas assignment in Brussels.  Aunt Viv and Uncle Jerry always made time to visit the family every year that they could.  After they moved to Austin, John, Matt, and I along with John's parents visited them at their home.  Aunt Viv took time to show us all the sights in Austin.  I always looked forward to seeing them each summer and had a family reunion at our house with everyone in attendance.  She would bring us pecans that she picked out from her own trees which were incredible.  I thought she was the prettiest aunt in the whole world.  I still do. 

I met Vicki and Jerry at GCC when I was in early high school, but didn't really get to know them until Debbie started working with the youth group.  Though Vicki & Jerry were always sitting up front at church and we did greet each other weekly, it wasn't until Vicki hosted the youth group parent banquet at her house that I really began to get to know her.   She was a great hostess and helped us high-schoolers decorate and plan and set up for the big even to honor our parents.  Over the years our families grew closer through many shared experiences most of which were church related or church inspired (like camping trips and canoe trips and many pot luck dinners).  Last year stopping by the house to say "hi" something seemed different but it didn't click what it was till seeing the photos here.  The little dog was no longer there.    Vicki brought love and vitality to every activity she was involved with.  Whether it was "doing the books" at church, or helping clean the kitchen, or setting up for a pot luck.  She was a bundle of energy and took notice and care of the details which pass by many unnoticed but make the difference for others.  She was a go-to person for advice on home remedies or diet advice and I know she advised me and helped mold how I "do" food and medicine to this day.  She and Jerry have been active in my life since I was in High School, supporting me in my endeavors and as I stepped out to be a missionary.  They have been there for me through the joyous times as well as the difficult times; offering encouragement and comfort!  She is an amazing woman and I can't wait to see her again in heaven!!!

It was more than 15 years ago, Vicki noticed our dinky decoration basket at our business and said “This won’t do.” And with a big smile she took the basket with her. A few days later she brought back the basket filled with beautiful flowers. She came back every season thereafter to change the décor according to each season. She has done that until she could no longer come out. We can still see her beautiful smiles and her loving touch around our business.

We are so blessed to have known Vicki, Jerry and her entire family. Our lives have been refreshed because of Vicki. Our love to the whole family!

Mrs. Vicki as I knew her, was my growing up Step Grandmother, neighbor that was always there for me. She never judged me or ever looked at me with anything but Love. She was the one I would go to when I needed patching up when I needed help including many bloody times I couldn’t fix up myself.  She was always there for me when I needed a talking to. Mrs. Vicki and Mr. Jerry both were there when I lost my Brother Troy Loken (RIP 1989). Every time I see a growing bent laid over tree I think of Mrs. Vicki and Mr. Jerry as the tree in their front yard has always been a favorite tree. I Loved their little dog Chihuahua (Little Bit) and now he’s jumping in your lap again. RIP Mrs. Vicki!!! 😢🥰

Last week  my  grandmother went to heaven and I will miss her more than she will ever know.  There are no words to express how sad I am and how much I wish I could of said goodbye.

Mrs. Vickie came into my life when I  was just five years old she taught me about true love, she taught me about God’s love, and she taught me what a normal childhood was supposed to be like. 

I will  forever keep her in  my heart and she will always be remembered in the James Household because she helped me to become the person I am today. 

Thank you, Mrs. Vickie for taking the time to slice my cheese with your special cheese slicer and placing my Ritz Crackers on my plate with tenderness and love! 

You will never be forgotten because you will live on through my vivid memories of you and my children will hold you close to their hearts.  My precious memories of you will never fade.  I love you, Mrs. Vickie!

My 25 years as Pastor of Grace Community Bible Church provides fond memories of Vickie so I’ll reminisce. 
For many years she served as “check writer/treasurer” for Grace, spending countless hours in the office as volunteer staff. She worked Mondays but it was not uncommon for her to come often to “tie up loose ends’. Along with Jerry, Vickie shared a passion for missions & missionaries. Whenever time came to write missions checks, Vickie was especially cheerful!
Vickie’s baking skills meant treats for the Eastman family. Knowing my love for dark chocolate, she always reserved the crème de la crème of her chocolate cookies for me. In addition, every Christmas, she gave my granddaughter & me a gigantic box of Ghirardelli Brownie Mix. 
One nickname that I gave Vickie was “Dr. High.” It started when I traveled to Russia in 2002 to teach at the New Life Bible College in Moscow. Prior to leaving she prepared a Zip Lock bag with a cloth dipped in eucalyptus oil with instructions that hourly on that long flight, I should smell the eucalyptus oil & I wouldn’t get sick. Initially I was skeptical but knew “Dr. High’s” other remedies worked, so I complied with the ‘doctor’s’ orders (in spite of eye rolling from my co-teacher, Bill Erdman). Amazingly, I never was sick those 6 weeks while Bill & the other 2 pastors were sick & missed the first two days of classes. 
After I retired as Pastor of Grace Community Bible Church, Kathy Barger introduced me to a preaching opportunity at the Longhorn Nursing Home. A number of members & former members from Grace joined monthly in ministering to the dear saints at the home. Jerry and Vickie faithfully handed out hymnbooks, turned pages for the residents, gave welcoming smiles & just enjoyed serving. As long as Vickie could drive she was present & always smiling. Attached is a picture taken at The Anderson Mill Museum where our Longhorn volunteers celebrated a Wedding Vow renewal for Rick and Debbie Clark.



I will always remember her smile, and love shown to Marianna.  Her strength and love for the Lord was seen in her actions shown to family and friends.

Debbie and family, I am truly sorry for your loss.  It is never easy to go through something like this.  However, “To live is Christ, to die is gain.”  This is such a comfort to know. 

My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Hugs and love,
Mary Agnes

I have only known Vickie for 5 or 6 years.  I sat next to Vickie and Jerry at church most Sundays and I called her from time to time to see how she was.  I never knew her to be down.  She was always so pleasant and upbeat and friendly.  I miss her and will remember her with great fondness.  I hope to see her again in Heaven someday. 

OBITUARY

Vivian High

June 9, 1931 – April 25, 2020

Cook-Walden Chapel of the Hills Funeral Home

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