J. O. Vick

Jess Oren (J.O.) Vick, Jr., was born in Thorpe Springs, TX on October 8, 1921 and he passed away in Orange, CA on February 8, 2013. J.O. was preceded in death, by his beloved wife of 65 years, Bonita Merle (Bonnie) Turner Vick on November 19, 2011. His father, Jess Oren Vick, Sr. also passed away on February 8th in 1967 and his mother, Amelia Caroline (Carrie) Haralson Vick passed away on January 26, 1965. He is also preceded in death by five brothers, Melvin, Richard (Dick), Horace (Hoss), Rex and Carl and two sisters, Margrete and Floy. He has one surviving sister, Bobbie Vick Franks, who resides in Ft. Sumner, NM with her husband Donald. J.O. and Bonnie have three children, son Gary Vick, who resides with his wife Benda in Fayetteville, GA, daughter Vicki Vick Reed, who resides with her husband Kevin in Santa Ana, CA and son Tom Vick, who resides with his wife Michelle and their three sons in Albuquerque, NM. J.O. also has a son by a previous relationship, Douglas Vick Frawley who resides in England. J.O. is survived by 13 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren and many dozens of cousins, nephews, nieces, great nephews and great nieces, etc. In 1931, when he was 10 years old, J.O.’s family moved from the Big Springs, TX area to Fort Sumner, NM to the Anal Community (where the Haralson’s - his mother’s family lived) to farm. This was during the Great Depression and the Vick family lived through some very hard times, often with little or nothing to eat. In 1933, they moved to Lubbock, TX to farm and then in 1936, they moved back to Fort Sumner and purchased the City Laundry. With the help of the children, J.O.’s parents made adobes by hand and built a business building and house on south 6th street in Fort Sumner. During the Depression, J.O. and his siblings had to work picking cotton and harvesting crops and this interfered with their education. Even though he was held back from advancing in school due to having to work to help feed the family, J.O. stayed the course and graduated from Fort Sumner High School at the age of 20, in 1942. J.O. was part of the “Greatest Generation” and served proudly, along with four of his brothers in World War II. He entered the U.S. Army in 1942 and was assigned to the Army Air Corps as an armorer for fighter/pursuit aircraft. Following initial training at Buckley Field in Denver, CO, J.O. was stationed in Orlando, Florida for combat training, then to Philadelphia, PA with the newly formed 355th Fighter Group, which was comprised of the 354th, 357th and 358th Fighter Squadrons. On July 1, 1943 the group boarded the Queen Elizabeth and sailed for England where they were assigned to the mighty Eighth Air Force, which was stationed at Steeple Morden, England. J.O. was the armorer for Colonel Claiborne “Clay” Kinnard, a P-51 Mustang Pilot and an Air Corps Ace, who became the squadron commander in 1943. After the Germans surrendered, the group moved to Gablingen, Germany as part of the Army of Occupation and during this time J.O. traveled in Germany and France. He received an Honorable Discharge from the U.S. Army in September 1945. J.O. and his 4 brothers, Dick, Hoss, Rex and Carl all returned home from the war to their families and friends. After the war, J.O. moved to the Buena Vista, CO area, to work with his oldest brother Melvin. It was in Buena Vista, that he and Bonnie met, fell in love and were married in 1946. Their first son Gary was born in nearby Salida, CO in 1948. In 1948, they moved from Colorado to Ft. Sumner, NM. Their daughter Vicki was born in Salida, CO in 1952. For relatively short periods, they also lived in Tucumcari, Artesia and Corona, while J.O. worked locally as an electrician. J.O. also managed a bar in Taiban, NM in the early 1950’s. In 1956, J.O. and a friend started Santa Rosa Electric and J.O., Bonnie, Gary and Vicki moved to Santa Rosa in December of 1956. He bought out his partner in Santa Rosa Electric a couple of years later and then J.O. and Bonnie owned and managed the company, which operated an electrical contracting business and an appliance and electronics store. Their son Tom was born in Santa Rosa in 1963. In 1993, Santa Rosa Electric Co., Inc. was transferred to son Tom and his wife Michelle and J.O. continued to work as an electrician and supervisor for the renamed company, Silverado Enterprises until 2010. J.O. helped build many of the business buildings, schools and homes in Santa Rosa and these are a lasting legacy to his skilled craftsmanship and strong work ethic. J.O. and Bonnie were committed Christians and were active in the Santa Rosa Church of Christ for many years, where he served as an Elder. J.O was an avid sportsman, and loved to hunt and fish. He was also an excellent golfer and card player. He was active in the community for many years, serving on the Santa Rosa Volunteer Fire Department, holding the office of Fire Chief for a time and he was a member of the Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce in Santa Rosa. J.O. and Bonnie lived in Santa Rosa until November of 2011, then, due to aging and health concerns they moved to Santa Ana, CA to live with daughter Vicki and her husband Kevin. Vicki was J.O. and Bonnie’s primary care-giver for over six years and sacrificed much to provide loving care to her Mom and Dad. To their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, they were lovingly known as PoPo and NeeNee. J.O. was a strong and loving family man and will be sorely missed by his family and friends. Funeral Services for J.O. Vick are scheduled to be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, February 16, 2013 at the Church of Christ, located at 3rd and Pecos in Santa Rosa, NM. Officiating at the service, will be Mr. Jim Ross, Preacher for the Church of Christ in Minco, OK. Mr. Ross is a dear, long-time family friend, who was often referred to by Bonnie Vick as her third son. Pallbearers will be J.O’s grandsons, Jerrod Shiplet, Jason Vick, Ryan Vick, Dustin Vick, Brandon Grindel, Jordan Vick and Zechariah Vick. Following Graveside Services at the Evergreen Cemetery in Santa Rosa, there will be a luncheon provided by family and friends at the Comfort Inn at 2524 East Historic Route 66 in Santa Rosa. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Chavez Funeral Home, 923 S. Third Street, Santa Rosa, NM. (575) 472-3369. To place an online tribute or sign the guest book, visit www.chavezfuneralhome.com