Thinking of Vicki today on her birthday. We used to go out to lunch every year with her on this day. So fun! We were all busy but so enjoyed making Vicki go- she never liked much attention but was always glad she went! RIP Vicki ❤️

Rest in peace, Vicki. Thank you for your kindness to me when I was a young boy. I remember your patience, laughter, homemade pizzas you made for Ray and I, and I will never forget how you could split an apple with your hands. I always felt welcome in your family's presence. My love and thoughts to Molly and the rest of her family.

I think it was the summer before 4th grade when I was riding my bicycle on Spruce Street, in front of my house. I had seen the moving truck and wondered if there would be any girls in the family.

Then out of nowhere two young girls appeared on the sidewalk in front of the house. I just had to find out who they were. That day I met Vickie and AK and we became best buddies forever. The little chub running around in a diaper was Mel. From then on Vickie and I were spending the night at each other's house or climbing trees or playing Tarzan. Of course Vickie had to be Tarzan and I had to be Jane. We were "blood sisters" because Vickie cut my arm and hers and we held the cuts together "so the blood would run together". We went through Girl Scouts together, even through high school. We both went to Emory and Henry and graduated together. We both got our Masters at ETSU and both taught in high schools. I met Don at Vickie's on a New Years and we were married a year and a half later. That was 54 years ago. I will miss Vickie but I know I will see her again. Rest well sweet friend. 

Amelia,
I am so very sorry to hear about Vicki. You and Vicki and your mom were always so very kind to me.
My thoughts are with you.

I have so many precious memories growing up across the street from the Morison family. I hold the entire family . . . Kyle, Molly, Vicki, AK, Amelia . . . in my heart forever. Molly made the BEST fried chicken in the whole wide world! Kyle took us on the boat and taught me to ski. The 3 girls and I went through all the usual "growing pains" of kids and teens. I feel blessed to have been a part of the Morison family! Love to Amelia and Molly and her family!

Amelia I'm so sorry to hear about Vickie. You are in my thoughts. I love you! ❤

Oh wow, what a terrific trip down memory lane, seeing the beautiful pictures Molly posted!! Loved them!
Some of my favorites memories of Vickie are centered around her Halloween tradition of inviting her neighborhood friends and children to her house before going out to trick or treat. Of course there was an abundance of food!! The children played several games in the backyard including dunking for apples, witches brew and my favorite, eating a donut hanging on a string using no hands. Harder than you think!! I loved it so much I did it with my first graders every Halloween.
Of course how can you think of Vickie and not giggle about her MANY jokes, stories and that infectious, sly smile she seemed to have always!
Love you Lady!!

I first met Vicki when she was my student English teacher at THS. She was great! Later years she was my neighbor in the Fairmount area. We have had many fun times together with family and friends. She was one of my favorite beach bums as we traveled to Folly Beach with the “girls!” We have spent numerous hours on the porch there solving family and friend problems, as well as laughing hysterically! Vicki was a gifted story and joke teller. She was so bright and a wonderful teacher. I loved sharing stories of our children and grandchildren, recipes and books, to name a few. She was a good friend who I miss terribly. Thank goodness for wonderful memories with her to comfort us now.

Molly and Mel,

It is hard to write just how much Vicki meant to me. As I think of those in addition to my parents who helped raise me, perhaps few played a bigger role than Vicki. 

As a young boy, she loved feeding us and always seemed to have a bunch of the freshest grapes on her table ready for me to devour. She loved telling and retelling her favorite stories, each punctuated with her affectionate laugh (which often led to a little snort!), and I never once tired of hearing her tales.  My favorite, of course, was Vicki regaling me of my determination as a toddler, resolute in carrying my metal lunch box despite it scraping along the sidewalk.  As Vicki would recall in this oft-repeated story, she would offer to help, and I would just scrunch up my toddler face and state, “I DO IT MYSELF!”

As I became an adolescent, Vicki’s love of cooking matched nicely with my love of eating. However, I started to see a different side of Vicki as we discussed classic literature such as Joseph Heller’s Catch-22, Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five, and George Orwell’s 1984. As I tossed back grapes in her kitchen, I often remember Vicki’s insights on Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and trying to understand each of these books from a perspective not initially apparent to a teenager. Until she passed away, discussing books with Vicki was one my favorite pastimes with her, and I enjoyed finishing a novel she would approve of just to have her teach me a little more about what I might have missed while reading it.

Going forward, I will miss Vicki tremendously. We spoke on the phone over the past few years when my trips to Bristol were less frequent, and one thing she always said she was happiest about was how our friendship had evolved. She was so happy to have been there for me as an additional parent in my youth, but she was thrilled now that she could call on me as a friend. It was a mutual feeling, and her passing leaves me one less friend in this world, one whom I always knew would be entertaining, and full of great conversation interwoven with loving insights.

In closing, I am so sorry Molly and Mel for your loss, but know that in my life, Vicki leaves behind an amazing legacy of warmth, education, and nurturing that I hope to pass along to my children. I think Vicki knew the great food in my youth was the bait to hook me into an eventual life-long friendship, and I will remain forever grateful for her intuition and the opportunity to have been a continuing part of Vicki's life. 

With much love and warmest regards always,
Mark

Vicki could definitely feed an Army, and she enjoyed doing it. Growing up just down the street from the Housers, my mom would often send me and my two brothers “down to Vicki’s house” for dinner. In retrospect, we probably invited ourselves to the Housers more often than was prudent, but I also don’t think Vicki cared. She could make ribs and Mac-n-Cheese for days, and we could eat for days. I have so many fond memories of sitting on that back porch eating delicious meals as we told stories and laughed. Vicki and I had an ongoing contest too; I would try to keep eating until all the food was gone while she tried to make sure my “hollow leg” actually got stuffed with food and I ran out of steam first. She always won - there was never a shortage of good food!