Vicki Garner

Vicki Marie Townson Garner was born on June 28, 1948, in Dallas, Texas. She came into this world in a tiny little package but contained within was an enormous amount of heart, love, and talent. Vicki could spend countless hours reading. Her dad used to tell her she was going to put her eyes out if she didn't put the books down. She loved spending time with her little brother, Bubba, who protected her and kept her from getting hurt but also got her in trouble most of the time. She used to wait outside for her dad to come home from work. All the kids on the street would run to him so he could swing them around. Since she couldn't run, she would wait for him to get to her and he would pick her up, throw her up in the air, and she said she felt like she was flying because she was up so high. He would then put her on his shoulders and carry her, and she felt like "hot stuff" because he did not do that with all the other kids. She learned at a young age to cook to help her mom out and it became her favorite hobby. She spent hours cooking from scratch for her family and loved nothing more than cooking with her sister, DeAnne, and her mother, Sybil. They made some of the best meals ever and us kids would only eat what they brought for the family reunions and church get togethers. Some of our favorites were her spaghetti, chicken pot pie, manicotti, homemade pound cake, and tea cakes. She also loved horseback riding and dressing like a cowgirl.

Vicki met her husband, Jim, in 1974 and it was love at first sight. They began dating in March and were married in May. Dad always said she couldn't live without him. She not only fell in love with Jim, but his daughter Karen, who was the light of her life from the moment she met her. Believing she would never have children of her own, the arrival of Page in 1977 was a huge blessing. She had another "blessing" in 1985 with the birth of Joshua, when she decided to wait until Jim was in Toronto, Canada to go into labor. Vicki not only raised her three kids, but she kept her nieces and nephews while their parents were working, as well as all of Page and Josh's friends. Cooking for all of Josh's friends was no small task. One time she made 5 pounds of spaghetti and 5 pounds of homemade meat sauce for supper. But Josh and his friend Jake decided to eat ALL of it, and she had to make something else for dinner. But she never complained. In fact, she loved doing it.

She went to work for the Texas Baptist Home for Children in 1994, where she began as a daycare worker. She absolutely loved all the children and was known as the turtle lady because turtles go "very slow like Mrs. Vicki." She later went to work in the office but anyone who went into her office knew it looked more like a playroom than a professional office. She made an impact on so many lives while working there. According to her friend Linda Dotson, "She was an amazing woman who planted so many seeds into so many children's lives." Another friend, Torre Smith, said, "Whenever I had a prayer request, she was the one to ask to pray. God always loved hearing her requests. We joked that God always heard her prayers because she had a direct line!"

Perhaps Vicki's biggest blessings were her two grandsons, Stryder and JD. She loved the boys more than anything and was so proud to be their Nonnie. She always said that all she wanted was to be remembered as the best mom and grandmother in the world. She definitely accomplished that.

Vicki is remembered lovingly by her husband, Jim, and her three kids: daughter Karen; daughter Page, and her son, Stryder; and son, Joshua and wife Stacey, their sons JD, Levi, and daughter Micah. She is also remembered by her brother, Charles "Bubba" Townson and wife Linda, their kids David, Candice, Traci, and Darren. Her sister DeAnne and husband Joe Keith, and their son, Keith. Sister-in-law Betha Wyatt and husband Russell, and their kids Gena Beth, Billie Jo, and James. Brother-in-law Robbie, and his kids Michael and Toni. Also, numerous cousins and friends who she loved dearly.