Annell Vikcers

Annnell Ross-Vickers of Taos, New Mexico passed away on December 27, 2007 in the Plaza de Retiro Retirement facility, her current home of the past two years. She is preceded in death by her parents, Alfa and Trudy Waldrop. She is survived by her husband, Colonel Robert E. Vickers. U.S. Air Force Retired, daughters Shelia Ross and Janace Chapman of Casper, Wyoming, Billie Clark of Albuquerque, New Mexico and step-son Mark Vickers also of Albuquerque.

Annell was born in Houston Texas on September 29, 1926 and enjoyed many treasured moments during her school years and early adulthood there. Among her numerous and memorable early achievements then as a beautiful young lady was her selection in a major beauty pageant as "Miss Houston" runner-up, just prior to her eighteenth birthday. Following then was her dedicated commitment to the World War Two effort when, along with dear and close life-long friends, she was employed in a key position within the Brown Ship Building enterprise at the Houston Ship Yards construction complex. Shortly after the war's end, she married and moved to Coffeyville, Kansas with her former husband, William D. Ross, who preceded her in death in 1990. In Coffeywille, this truly gifted and dedicated lady committed herself to that of a caring and compassionate home-maker as she nurtured her family. In Coffeyville she made innumerable friends with her incomparable disposition and generous helping hand - the many with whom she remained close to up to her very last days along with the many more from her later homes in Corpus Christie, Albuquerque, and the Taos area.

This magnificent woman in later years achieved personal milestones, few imagine or dream about. One such was her dedicated commitment to pursue and be awarded her Bachelor's Degree in Nursing at the University of New Mexico at the age of thirty-nine - all while ensuring a continuing and beautiful family home environment. Subsequently, she was sought out and appointed to the New Mexico Nursing Association where her many recommendations and suggestions for the welfare and advancement of the Nursing profession during the State's Legislature sessions resulted in a number of significant and substantive betterments for that cause. In the course of her nursing commitments, she served also on the office staff of a number of prominent Albuquerque physicians and taught classes in the Nurse's Aide's program.

As a very special person in many other ways, she will always be remembered by loved ones and friends as an incomparable, capable lady who possessed a very unique flair, few have, in home decor touches, gourmet food preparations, and family entertainment ideas. She loved the Southwest vistas, culture and it's art with all her intensity for living, and especially her occasional Old Mexico visits. Mariachi music was her very favorite
and special kind of entertainment, and on her 2007 birthday she was serenaded as a surprise by her family at her home in Taos. Annell also enjoyed making so many friends with her caring ways, especially those later in the Taos area from the 1960s onward where the family built several cabins and enjoyed many vacation times in the Valle Escondido community. Her times there with her youthtful Grandsons, David Chapman, and Andrew Ross of Casper and Ross Clark of Albuquerque, were treasured ones for her to the very last.

Her loving and beautiful memory will always be with us. She personally chose to have no Memorial program upon her passing. Her family does have plans to host a Remembrance-Celebration-of-Her-Life at the Valle Escondido Community Club House facility on Saturday, June 28, 2008. Finally, In addition to her immediate family and grandsons, she is survived by a Brother, Bob Waldrop of Fort Worth, Texas, and two wonderful great-Grand Daughters, Chelsea and Clarisa Chapman of Casper, Wyoming. She was 8l years of age.