Lorraine Vickery

Lorraine Helen Rita (Weckman) Vickery died recently on December 29, 2024 at age 106 after a life filled with the adventures of a renowned husband and five children. Her husband of 57 years, Clement (Vick) Vickery, MD, preceded her in death, having died September 24, 2001.

Lorraine was born October 5, 1918 in Akron, Ohio, and, always the adventurous one, after high school she struck out for Seattle on her own. She later met Vick and they began a life together, moving for his varied medical training locations in psychiatry, including Harvard in Boston, Los Angeles, Topeka, Larned, and Halstead, Kansas, before moving to Medical Lake Washington and finally Salem, Oregon.

Over the years, their five children were born, Karen (Williams), Tess (Emmert), Gretchen (Palmer) and Marc and Brock. Lorraine was a devoted partner, wonderful nurturing mother, an avid reader and enjoyed expanding her own skills in gardening, agriculture, painting, crafts and decorating the many homes they lived in. Early on, she created, made costumes and produced plays for the neighborhood children and her own to participate in. An international cooking club for physicians’ families was her inspiration. She also learned to fly their Cessna 172 and enjoyed, ice skating, skiing, tennis and camping. The family trips in the suitcase style trailer took them to the Gulf of Mexico, Canada, and many places in between, visiting national parks and touring many of the states across the country. Lorraine also volunteered at various hospitals and gave back to the community, wherever they lived.

Once the children were grown, Vick and Lorraine enjoyed traveling to other countries as well, including Thailand, China, Japan, and Spain. Lorraine was an enthusiastic traveler, enjoying learning about different cultures and cuisines. 

She is survived by her 5 children, 8 grandchildren, Gretchen (Williams) Quillin, Derrick Emmert, Leif Emmert, Matthew Palmer, Rae Palmer, Zachary Palmer, Sarah (Palmer) Antoniou, and Thad Vickery, as well as 8 great grandchildren.

Lorraine will be remembered for her quick humor and her Lorrainisms, her warm smile and sparkling blue eyes, and especially her way of helping others feel valued, comfortable and welcomed.