Vicki Ann (Bless) Harbin, 81, of Salem, Illinois passed away suddenly on Monday, September 9th, 2024, at the Manor at Salem Woods. Vicki was born on December 18, 1942, in Springfield, Illinois. She was raised in Greenview, Illinois where she married Reggie Harbin on July 25, 1959. She raised her family with Reggie in Greenview where she was also a member of the Greenview Christian Church. Vicki moved with her husband and family from Greenview to Belleville, Illinois in 1976 and then to rural Iuka, Illinois in 1980 where they spent the rest of their married life together. She then moved to Salem in 2021. She worked for many years as a school secretary at Central, Hawthorn, and Franklin Park schools in Salem, Illinois and retired from the school system in 2007. She made many friends during her time working in Salem’s elementary schools. After retirement, Vicki also volunteered as a Pink Lady at the Salem Hospital.
Throughout her life, Vicki enjoyed spending time with her family including her many grandchildren, gardening, country living, cooking and baking, and gospel music. She always worked hard to keep a good home for her family. Vicki loved her family dearly and loved her Lord Jesus with all her heart.
Vicki was preceded in death by her husband Reggie in 2007 after nearly 48 years of marriage. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Rowena Bless of Greenview, Illinois, and her great grandson, Walker Borum, of Carterville, Illinois. She is survived by her children, Michael and wife Gina, of Carterville, Illinois; Tracey Martin and husband Kerry of Marion, Illinois; Christy Watson and husband Roger of Iuka, Illinois; and Cathy Hays and husband Patrick of Iuka, Illinois.
She is also survived by grandchildren Andrea (Martin) Borum and husband Dustin of Carterville, Illinois; Jered Russell and wife Erika of Holly Springs, North Carolina; Lindsay (Russell) Smith and husband Nathan of Clay City, Illinois; David Martin of St. Louis, Missouri; Samuel Harbin of Jeffersonville, Indiana; Elizabeth Harbin of St. Louis, Missouri, Lauren (Hays) Sanders and husband Dacota of Mount Vernon, Illinois; and Jennifer (Hays) Rubin and husband
Reis of Surprise, Arizona. She is further survived by great grandchildren Gracie, Maddie, Nolan, Wyatt, Carson, Aubrey, Benjamin, and Addison.
Graveside services will be held at Elmwood Cemetery in Greenview, Illinois on Friday September 13, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. with Kerry Martin officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations may be made to the Walker Borum Foundation or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital and will be accepted at Sutherland-Rankin Funeral Home, 310 North Broadway/ P.O. Box 97 Salem, Illinois 62881, (618)548-1234, who is honored to be of service to Vicki’s Family at this time. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.sutherlandfuneralhome.com and the Funeral Home Facebook Page.
