Vickie L. Freeman Wicks, 73, of Mount Vernon, Illinois, passed away at 1:30 pm January 20, 2022 at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mount Vernon. Miss Vickie worked most of her life as a waitress. She never knew a stranger and always put other before herself. Late in life she was a bartender and worked at several places in town including Geo’s, the Corner Tavern, and the Hideout. She loved to cook and bake and she cooked for just about everyone in town at one time or another. She started a yearly “Wild Game” cook off at Geo’s with Mount Vernon Celebrity judges to taste test each dish. She ran the contest for a few years. After retirement she continued cooking, gardening, and maintaining her memorial flower garden in honor of her late mother, Jean Winings. Most of all she loved spending time with her family and friends. Vickie’s sense of humor and laughter were infectious. Her favorite poem came from Little House on the Prairie. “Remember me with smiles and laughter, for that is how I will remember you all. If you can only remember me with tears, then don’t remember me at all.” Laura Ingalls Wilder.
Per Vickie’s request she was cremated and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made in Vicki’s honor to SSM Health at Home Hospice.Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information.
Vickie is survived by her daughter, Kelly Swank of Mount Vernon, Illinois; son, Heath Reynolds of Decatur, Illinois; grandsons, Nathan, Coleton, and Weston Swank of Mount Vernon, Illinois, Nick Powell of Brenham, Texas; granddaughter, Amber Reynolds of Brenham, Texas; great-grandchildren, Greyson and Nokie Swank of Mount Vernon, Illinois; sister, Sandra Kessel and husband, Fred of Shelbyville, Illinois, Sally Boehm and husband, Larry of Westerwelt, Illinois, Pennie Evans and husband, Steve of Mount Vernon, Illinois, Dixie Gray and husband Dale of San Leon, Texas; brother, Joe Winings of Lakewood, Illinois; special friend, Christopher Crawford of Boyd, Illinois; and many nieces and nephews.
She was born August 8, 1948 in Shelbyville, Illinois to the late Daniel and Jean (Phelps) Winings. In addition to her parents, Vickie was preceded in death by her husbands, Charles B. Freeman and Joseph D. Wicks; infant daughter, Molly Marie; nephew, Jacob Edwards.
