Walter Lee Vickery

Walter Lee Vickery passed away at the Uintah Care Center in Vernal, Utah on August 18, 2017 at the age of 75. He was born in Crowder, Oklahoma, Oct. 8, 1941. The first child of Loyd and Mildred (McChristian) Vickery. He married Sandra Jo Smith on August 9, 1969 at the Baptist Church in Vernal. They had a daughter Rhenea, and a son Clinton. Walter was a hard worker, his first job was a carpenter apprentice, working on the Flaming Gorge Dam diversion tunnel with his father. He graduated from high school at Manila High School, Manila, Utah in 1960. He joined the Army in 1961 with his best friend, after basic training he was sent to Germany, where he was assigned to guard the Berlin Wall. When finished serving his country in Germany he was on his way home, the ship he was on delayed at sea, President Kennedy had been assassinated on Nov. 23rd. the officers in charge had to wait for orders as to where to send the men, he was discharged on Nov. 27th, 1963. After being discharged from the Army, he worked with his dad on several construction sights in Vernal as a carpenter apprentice. He also worked for Sweeney Lumber Co. in Roosevelt cutting down trees on the mountain, with his dad, it was there he fractured his back and had a lot of pain and trouble with it the rest of his life. After some roaming around the country, Walter returned to Vernal and his family, and met the love of his life Sandra. They spent their early married life in Doniphan, Mo. where both Rhenea and Clinton were born. He then moved his young family to Evanston, Wyo. to be near Sandra's side of the family. After several years there they moved to Greeley, CO. and lived there the rest of their married life. After Sandra's passing, his children moved him to Vernal. Walter liked to read westerns books, watch old western movies, bowl, and most of all hunt and fish. He was always ready for a big family fish fry. He was a big Elvis Presley fan, in his younger days, he liked to try and sing just like Elvis, actually he wasn't too bad at it. When moving to the Care Center 3 and a half years ago, he could be found in the Sunshine Room, over by the windows, at the big folding table putting puzzles together, from after breakfast until bedtime. Most people that visited there just knew him as the puzzle man. Walter is survived by his children Rhenea (Douglas) Posell, Henderson, CO. Clinton Vickery of Greeley, CO. Sisters Velma Thompson, Brenda ( J.W.) Nold of Vernal, sister-in-law Donna Vickery of Lewisville, TX. He is preceded in death by his parent Loyd and Mildred, brother Roy Vickery, brother-in-law Clyde Thompson. Memorial Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16th, 2017 at Blackburn Vernal Mortuary, under their direction. Burial at Vernal Memorial Cemetery, with Military honors. www.blackburnvernalmortuary.com