Joanne "Jo" Vickery

Joanne “Jo” Vickery passed away peacefully, in the presence of her children, in Lakewood, Washington on January 14, 2021. 

Joanne Jackson Vickery was born May 9, 1931 in Clawson, Michigan to parents, Jabe Cook Jackson and Grace Goodwin Jackson. Joanne was raised the oldest daughter, having three sisters, one older brother and three younger brothers. She and her family relocated from Detroit, Michigan to Kingsley, Michigan prior to Joanne entering high school, where she excelled academically and graduated from Kingsley High in 1948, at the age of seventeen. In 1949, she left Kingsley and ventured to Auburn, Alabama to attend Montevallo Women’s College while living with her beloved maternal grandmother, Cora Goodwin. It was there that she met the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Vickery, who was attending Auburn University. They were married in 1950, and Joanne worked while Bob pursued his college degree and officer’s training. 

During Bob’s Air Force career, they and their three children traveled throughout the country and Europe. Upon Bob’s retirement from the USAF in 1974, they settled in Alamogordo and made it their home. Joanne worked many years as head bank teller for Security Bank and Trust and later became secretary to the bank president. Robert and Joanne developed the Monte Vallejo Real Estate Co. and later, The Gallery of Homes, where they worked together selling land and various properties throughout Otero County. Bob eventually began reviewing appraisals for Alamogordo Federal Savings and Loan, while Joanne managed rental properties for Century Twenty-One. She went on to obtain her Broker’s license and purchased Century 
Twenty-One Realty with partners, Nancy Blanchard and Jane Quigley, establishing Century Twenty-One, Casa. They were better known as the “Golden Girls”. It was in the late 1990s when the ladies sold their business and Joanne fully retired. 

Jo was a devoted Christian and long time member of Grace United Methodist Church. She was an extremely skilled seamstress. Over the years, she sewed beautiful clothing for her children and granddaughter. Her passion was playing bridge. She was an avid duplicate bridge player, attending many tournaments and earning master points. 

In 2003, Jo suffered a stroke which limited her abilities and forced her to make many major adjustments in her life. Upon the death of her husband in 2008, she found herself incapable of maintaining the home which she and Bob had hoped to never leave. Her health conditions promoted her move to DuPont Washington, where she resided at Patriot’s Landing, a beautiful, picturesque, assisted living facility. She enjoyed her life there, and her sister, Nancy, residing in nearby Portland, was of tremendous help and support to Jo while she was there. Her children relished in their many trips to visit her. 

During this pandemic, Jo’s children and her sister, Nancy were truly blessed to have been able to be with her at the end of her life. A blessing that we will forever cherish. She was an amazing and gracious woman, who will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. 

Joanne is survived by her three children, Debra Jo Vickery of Albuquerque, NM, Robert Steven Vickery, DVM of Evans, CO, Kimberly Sue (Michael) Byers of La Luz, NM; her grandchildren, Schuyler Jo Vizcarra of Albuquerque, NM and Jacob (Kari) Vizcarra of San Diego, CA; her siblings, Nancy Schwarz of Portland, OR, Mary Brewer of Charlevoix, MI, Claudia Apfel of Barre, VT, Jon Jackson (Jean Craxton) of Missoula, MT, Larry (Christine) Jackson of Lolo, MT, and Jabe Jackson of Cedar, MI; sisters-in-law, Barbara Greene of Montgomery, AL and Mary Elizabeth Troup of Dallas, Georgia and many nieces and nephews. 

Joanne was preceded in death by her parents, her elder brother, Donald Jackson and her husband, Robert Vickery. 

A private family graveside service will be held for Joanne on January 30th at 11:00 am at Monte Vista Cemetery in Alamogordo, where she will be laid to rest beside her late husband. 

Due to Covid restrictions, only immediate family members are permitted to attend her graveside service. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Grace United Methodist Church in Alamogordo or the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in Joanne’s name. 

The Vickery family has entrusted their loved one to the care of Scenic Chapel to direct the funeral services.

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