Vickie Cheney, 76, of Little Elm, Texas passed away on March 22, 2024, surrounded by her family.
The oldest of three children, Vickie was born on August 28, 1947, to Margaret Laneese (Wade) and Parker Lee Crim. She was a small-town country girl with a big smile, big dreams, and even bigger heart.
She spent her childhood in Henderson, where she also learned to play the piano and twirl the baton, going on to become drum major at Henderson High School. She later enrolled in Kilgore College and joined the Rangerettes. During that time, the team was featured in the Macy’s New Year’s Day Parade, the Cotton Bowl Parade, and even on the cover of Life Magazine. While studying at Kilgore College, Vickie was, not surprisingly, nominated for the title of “Ranger Beauty.”
After Kilgore, Vickie moved to Austin, where she met the love of her life, Thomas Jeffrey Cheney. She was sitting at a stop light when she caught Jeff’s eye. A beautiful soul in a bright blue 1967 Pontiac Lemans with a license plate that simply read “VICK E”. For two weeks Jeff waited at that light, mustering up the nerve to follow her home and introduce himself. From that point on, they were virtually inseparable, marrying on May 9, 1970. It is, and will remain, a love story for all the ages.
During this period, Vickie embarked on a career in the oil and gas industry, a field predominantly occupied by men at the time. Early on, she distinguished herself by rising to the second highest paid executive administrative assistant in Houston. She valued her career, but valued family more. It was after having children she found her true calling in life — to be an amazing wife and mother.
A couple of things to know about Vickie:
She was quirky and animated. Her laugh was infectious, and she lit up a room. She didn’t care what anybody thought - or at least she pretended not to care. Her go-to-mantras were some version of “who cares what people think” or “you’re perfect the way you are.” Powerful sentences for any child to hear.
She loved working in the yard and growing her own plants. She carried clippers and root-tone in her handbag. There wasn’t a plant she couldn’t grow — or a place she wouldn’t take a cutting from if she saw something she liked. Nothing was off limits.
She loved her white tennis shoes with ample amounts of Scotchgard, so they stayed white.
She loved red lipstick and red shoes. Vickie used to always say there was “something about red shoes.”
She loved Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Elvis, and Huey Lewis and the News.
She could cheer, high-kick and fall into the splits with her youngest daughter. She could shoot hoops and catch fast balls with her son. She even delivered her oldest daughters’ horse. Vickie could do almost anything she set her mind to – except cook.
Cooking was not her passion. Twice she set the kitchen on fire. To this day, her children are not foodies. That is entirely her fault. Vickie may have single handedly pioneered the role reversal in the family unit — trading places with dad so as not to burn the house down. So, she tended to the yard and pool while he tended to the kitchen.
In addition to high kicks and split jumps, Vickie loved the great outdoors. Throughout the course of her life, her fondness for fishing, driving the tractor, and tending to the yard never wavered. And she mowed the yard almost every day.
She had the worst moonwalk on the planet. But Vickie didn’t care and did it anyway, laughing out loud or proclaiming “weeee” while doing so.
She loved the piano and would often play at holidays, transitioning to the electric keyboard during the 1980’s, while wearing one of her electric-colored jogging suits.
She was a woman of extraordinary determination. A true warrior. At times, her family believed she could stop the planet from rotating on its axis if she wanted it bad enough.
Above all, she was a wellspring of love. Vickie adored her husband, cherished her children, and doted on her grandchildren with unrestrained affection. Her love was an abundant, beautiful force that touched everyone around her. She was the sun and the moon — a blazing fire that ignited the soul and a gentle moonbeam that illuminated the heart.
Vickie Lee Cheney was extraordinary in every way.
Her passing leaves a void that will be deeply felt, especially by her husband, Jeff Cheney Sr. of Little Elm, Texas, who will forever treasure her memory.
She leaves behind a loving family: her four children, Kimberly Cheney and her partner Matthew Hancock; Michelle Cheney; Jeff Cheney Jr. and his wife Dana; and Christie Cheney Bone and her husband Chris.
Affectionately known as Mimi, she also leaves her five beloved grandchildren: Zachary Cheney, Mason Cheney, Kaytlin Cheney, Cheney Bone, and Cavin Bone.
Later nicknamed “Mama Vickie”, Mama Vickie is also survived by her wonderful caregiver, close friend and kindred spirit, Folasade Adebanjo. A warrior herself, who relentlessly stood by Vickie’s side and kept her thriving for a lot longer than anyone could have ever imagined.
Vickie is survived by her sister-in-law, Reba Crim of Henderson, Texas; her nephew, Dave Crim and his family; her niece, Erica Sudeck and her family.
She will be met in heaven by her parents, Laneese and Parker Crim; two brothers she loved with all her heart, Gary “Mims” Crim and Dave Crim; and her nephew, Kyle Crim.
Vickie’s legacy of love and determination will continue to live on in the hearts of those who knew her.
Family and friends are invited to a Visitation at 1:00 PM at the Berkshire Chapel, 9073 Berkshire Drive, Frisco, Texas 75033, on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Immediately following the visitation, Vickie’s celebration of life will be held at the same location at 2.00 PM. Interment will follow at Ridgeview West Memorial Park, 7800 Sanctuary Drive, Frisco, Texas 75033. The service will also be live streamed at the following link:https://celebrationoflife.tv/blog/vickie-crim-cheney