Vickie Jean (Vick) Sierra, 74
Vickie Jean (Vick) Sierra, passed away peacefully with her family by her side, on Dec. 27, 2011, in Coeur d'Alene. Born to Lyall and Thelma Ascheman Vick in 1937 in Miles City Montana, and then raised in Elliston, Mont., surrounded by her four brothers who adored her.
She graduated from Powell County High School, and earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing from Montana State University in Bozeman, Mont.
She was an extremely brave and strong woman. She packed up and moved five kids and two cats by herself from Anchorage to Coeur d'Alene, a town where she knew no one, had no job, and no house. She went back to school to refresh her nursing degree while working three jobs.
True to her nature, she choose a profession that reflected her caring, giving spirit and it was mirrored in everything she did.
She had many adventures in her lifetime and she was always up for a road trip.
She grew up in Montana and then moved to Minnesota, back to Montana, then Wisconsin, California, Alaska and then settled here in Coeur d'Alene, where she thoroughly enjoyed the lake, hiking on Tubb's Hill and being outdoors.
She liked to create, creating a fabulous garden, sewing quilts and growing a family. Typical of her free and creative personality, she choose a new surname for herself, Sierra, which embodied her adventurous spirit.
When she was feeling strong, she felt revitalized attending Unity Church of North Idaho.
She was very brave and fiercely strong willed while battling Multiple Sclerosis. She strongly desired to live independently at home, and we are blessed that she was granted this wish.
She was a healing, wonderful spirit to all those she met. She always focused on a person's inside, not their outside. Even with five children of her own, she always said that we could each invite a friend on any outing, whether it was a day trip to Thunderbird Falls or a full camping trip with just her and 10 kids, to her it was the more the merrier.
She often helped care for her grandchildren, taking them on goofy adventures and creating silly schenanigans at her house with Drew, Nolan, Brady, Joey, Oliver, Alyssa, Torin, Sarah and Katie.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Lyall and Thelma Vick; as well as her brother, Roger Vick.
She leaves behind her brothers, Dick Vick, Ronnie Vick and Dale Vick.
She is dearly loved by and will be missed by her children and their families: Bret with Kristin, Alyssa and Torin; Janine with Greg, Sarah and Katie; Scott with Cari, Brady, Joey and Oliver; April with Patrick, Drew and Nolan; and Darci with Kim, Doggies and Kitties.
A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, 2011, at Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d'Alene Chapel. Yates Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of final arrangements. Please visit Vickie's online memorial at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com and sign her guest book.