Vickie Joan Farrell Simmons concluded her journey with cancer on April 6, 2011. For 22 months she was diligent in following recommendations aimed at quelling her illness so that she could do the things that mattered most to her: meeting with friends for coffee or meals, traveling to see beautiful places and important family members, and comporting herself with dignity, grace, and consideration for others. In all of these she was successful.
Vickie was born to Stella and John Farrell in San Bernardino, California on December 27, 1947. She was the "baby sister" to John and Charles, who were 16 and 18 years older. As her brothers married and began their families, she was close to her nieces and nephews, who were not much younger than she. She maintained her connections to them and was especially close to Chuck Farrell, Hope Farrell Glass, and Linda Farrell.
Her personality as a child involved qualities of independence, mischief, and exuberance for action. Her brother, John, jokingly said that he expected her to attend reform school rather than law school. When her family moved to Oregon in 1959, she decided it was an opportune time to change her errant ways.
Beginning in sixth grade, she became a more cooperative student and classmate, and she participated in student activities, often as a leader in student clubs. The encouragement of her sister-in-law, Louise, led to her decision to attend college, the first in her family to do so. Always a practical person, Vickie considered foreign journalism as a field of study but ultimately decided to prepare for a career in education at the local college. She earned a B.S. at Southern Oregon State College in 1970 and later earned an M.S. at Southern Oregon State College and a J.D. at the University of Oregon School of Law.
In her early professional career she substituted in secondary social studies classrooms a bit but was quickly noticed by the director of a program for students with disabilities, who recruited her to a position that led to a substantial part of her professional identity: developing programs for students with disabilities. She fulfilled that role in a variety of ways including teacher, case coordinator, program administrator, consultant, and special education director at both the state and school district levels.
Her most rewarding work was with the Boise School District, where she was employed from 1990 until she retired in 2007. She served as Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Area Director of the Borah quadrant, and in her last three years of employment, Deputy Superintendent. She was especially proud to work with others in passing the 2006 bond issue that resulted in the construction and renovation of a number of schools.
Vickie was highly respected by the education community, from support staff to fellow administrators to parents. They appreciated her kind, fair, unassuming manner that was coupled with an insistence on doing what is right for students and for employees. She was quick to give credit to others, expected and found the best in them, and preferred win-win outcomes when points of view differed.
She received many awards during her professional career, but the one that meant the most to her was made a year ago as she attempted to conquer cancer: in March 2010 the Board of Trustees approved the naming of the Vickie J. Simmons Media center at East Junior High School in recognition of her service to education.
Vickie enjoyed fly-fishing, hiking in the Boise foothills, reading, and traveling in her RV. She planned to travel widely in retirement and was grateful that she had the opportunity to visit Kenya and Egypt before her illness.
Vickie married Doyle Simmons in 1967; they later divorced. Their son, Brian, was born in Medford, Oregon in 1972, and she was immensely proud of the independent, self-reliant, capable person that he has become.
Vickie had a circle of friends who valued her dearly and grieve her loss in their lives. Most importantly among them is her best friend, Melinda Lindsey, who shared her home for more than 29 years and cared for her in her journey with cancer.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to Vickie may be made to the Boise Schools Education Foundation, 8169 W. Victory Rd., Boise, ID 83709.
A celebration of her life will be arranged for family, friends, and colleagues in the near future.
Published in Idaho Statesman on April 10, 2011
Vickie was born to Stella and John Farrell in San Bernardino, California on December 27, 1947. She was the "baby sister" to John and Charles, who were 16 and 18 years older. As her brothers married and began their families, she was close to her nieces and nephews, who were not much younger than she. She maintained her connections to them and was especially close to Chuck Farrell, Hope Farrell Glass, and Linda Farrell.
Her personality as a child involved qualities of independence, mischief, and exuberance for action. Her brother, John, jokingly said that he expected her to attend reform school rather than law school. When her family moved to Oregon in 1959, she decided it was an opportune time to change her errant ways.
Beginning in sixth grade, she became a more cooperative student and classmate, and she participated in student activities, often as a leader in student clubs. The encouragement of her sister-in-law, Louise, led to her decision to attend college, the first in her family to do so. Always a practical person, Vickie considered foreign journalism as a field of study but ultimately decided to prepare for a career in education at the local college. She earned a B.S. at Southern Oregon State College in 1970 and later earned an M.S. at Southern Oregon State College and a J.D. at the University of Oregon School of Law.
In her early professional career she substituted in secondary social studies classrooms a bit but was quickly noticed by the director of a program for students with disabilities, who recruited her to a position that led to a substantial part of her professional identity: developing programs for students with disabilities. She fulfilled that role in a variety of ways including teacher, case coordinator, program administrator, consultant, and special education director at both the state and school district levels.
Her most rewarding work was with the Boise School District, where she was employed from 1990 until she retired in 2007. She served as Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Area Director of the Borah quadrant, and in her last three years of employment, Deputy Superintendent. She was especially proud to work with others in passing the 2006 bond issue that resulted in the construction and renovation of a number of schools.
Vickie was highly respected by the education community, from support staff to fellow administrators to parents. They appreciated her kind, fair, unassuming manner that was coupled with an insistence on doing what is right for students and for employees. She was quick to give credit to others, expected and found the best in them, and preferred win-win outcomes when points of view differed.
She received many awards during her professional career, but the one that meant the most to her was made a year ago as she attempted to conquer cancer: in March 2010 the Board of Trustees approved the naming of the Vickie J. Simmons Media center at East Junior High School in recognition of her service to education.
Vickie enjoyed fly-fishing, hiking in the Boise foothills, reading, and traveling in her RV. She planned to travel widely in retirement and was grateful that she had the opportunity to visit Kenya and Egypt before her illness.
Vickie married Doyle Simmons in 1967; they later divorced. Their son, Brian, was born in Medford, Oregon in 1972, and she was immensely proud of the independent, self-reliant, capable person that he has become.
Vickie had a circle of friends who valued her dearly and grieve her loss in their lives. Most importantly among them is her best friend, Melinda Lindsey, who shared her home for more than 29 years and cared for her in her journey with cancer.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to Vickie may be made to the Boise Schools Education Foundation, 8169 W. Victory Rd., Boise, ID 83709.
A celebration of her life will be arranged for family, friends, and colleagues in the near future.
Published in Idaho Statesman on April 10, 2011
Vickie Joan Farrell Simmons concluded her journey with cancer on April 6, 2011. For 22 months she was diligent in following recommendations aimed at quelling her illness so that she could do the things that mattered most to her: meeting with friends for coffee or meals, traveling to see beautiful places and important family members, and comporting herself with dignity, grace, and consideration for others. In all of these she was successful.
Vickie was born to Stella and John Farrell in San Bernardino, California on December 27, 1947. She was the "baby sister" to John and Charles, who were 16 and 18 years older. As her brothers married and began their families, she was close to her nieces and nephews, who were not much younger than she. She maintained her connections to them and was especially close to Chuck Farrell, Hope Farrell Glass, and Linda Farrell.
Her personality as a child involved qualities of independence, mischief, and exuberance for action. Her brother, John, jokingly said that he expected her to attend reform school rather than law school. When her family moved to Oregon in 1959, she decided it was an opportune time to change her errant ways.
Beginning in sixth grade, she became a more cooperative student and classmate, and she participated in student activities, often as a leader in student clubs. The encouragement of her sister-in-law, Louise, led to her decision to attend college, the first in her family to do so. Always a practical person, Vickie considered foreign journalism as a field of study but ultimately decided to prepare for a career in education at the local college. She earned a B.S. at Southern Oregon State College in 1970 and later earned an M.S. at Southern Oregon State College and a J.D. at the University of Oregon School of Law.
In her early professional career she substituted in secondary social studies classrooms a bit but was quickly noticed by the director of a program for students with disabilities, who recruited her to a position that led to a substantial part of her professional identity: developing programs for students with disabilities. She fulfilled that role in a variety of ways including teacher, case coordinator, program administrator, consultant, and special education director at both the state and school district levels.
Her most rewarding work was with the Boise School District, where she was employed from 1990 until she retired in 2007. She served as Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Area Director of the Borah quadrant, and in her last three years of employment, Deputy Superintendent. She was especially proud to work with others in passing the 2006 bond issue that resulted in the construction and renovation of a number of schools.
Vickie was highly respected by the education community, from support staff to fellow administrators to parents. They appreciated her kind, fair, unassuming manner that was coupled with an insistence on doing what is right for students and for employees. She was quick to give credit to others, expected and found the best in them, and preferred win-win outcomes when points of view differed.
She received many awards during her professional career, but the one that meant the most to her was made a year ago as she attempted to conquer cancer: in March 2010 the Board of Trustees approved the naming of the Vickie J. Simmons Media center at East Junior High School in recognition of her service to education.
Vickie enjoyed fly-fishing, hiking in the Boise foothills, reading, and traveling in her RV. She planned to travel widely in retirement and was grateful that she had the opportunity to visit Kenya and Egypt before her illness.
Vickie married Doyle Simmons in 1967; they later divorced. Their son, Brian, was born in Medford, Oregon in 1972, and she was immensely proud of the independent, self-reliant, capable person that he has become.
Vickie had a circle of friends who valued her dearly and grieve her loss in their lives. Most importantly among them is her best friend, Melinda Lindsey, who shared her home for more than 29 years and cared for her in her journey with cancer.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to Vickie may be made to the Boise Schools Education Foundation, 8169 W. Victory Rd., Boise, ID 83709.
A celebration of her life will be arranged for family, friends, and colleagues in the near future.
Published in Idaho Statesman on April 10, 2011
Vickie was born to Stella and John Farrell in San Bernardino, California on December 27, 1947. She was the "baby sister" to John and Charles, who were 16 and 18 years older. As her brothers married and began their families, she was close to her nieces and nephews, who were not much younger than she. She maintained her connections to them and was especially close to Chuck Farrell, Hope Farrell Glass, and Linda Farrell.
Her personality as a child involved qualities of independence, mischief, and exuberance for action. Her brother, John, jokingly said that he expected her to attend reform school rather than law school. When her family moved to Oregon in 1959, she decided it was an opportune time to change her errant ways.
Beginning in sixth grade, she became a more cooperative student and classmate, and she participated in student activities, often as a leader in student clubs. The encouragement of her sister-in-law, Louise, led to her decision to attend college, the first in her family to do so. Always a practical person, Vickie considered foreign journalism as a field of study but ultimately decided to prepare for a career in education at the local college. She earned a B.S. at Southern Oregon State College in 1970 and later earned an M.S. at Southern Oregon State College and a J.D. at the University of Oregon School of Law.
In her early professional career she substituted in secondary social studies classrooms a bit but was quickly noticed by the director of a program for students with disabilities, who recruited her to a position that led to a substantial part of her professional identity: developing programs for students with disabilities. She fulfilled that role in a variety of ways including teacher, case coordinator, program administrator, consultant, and special education director at both the state and school district levels.
Her most rewarding work was with the Boise School District, where she was employed from 1990 until she retired in 2007. She served as Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Area Director of the Borah quadrant, and in her last three years of employment, Deputy Superintendent. She was especially proud to work with others in passing the 2006 bond issue that resulted in the construction and renovation of a number of schools.
Vickie was highly respected by the education community, from support staff to fellow administrators to parents. They appreciated her kind, fair, unassuming manner that was coupled with an insistence on doing what is right for students and for employees. She was quick to give credit to others, expected and found the best in them, and preferred win-win outcomes when points of view differed.
She received many awards during her professional career, but the one that meant the most to her was made a year ago as she attempted to conquer cancer: in March 2010 the Board of Trustees approved the naming of the Vickie J. Simmons Media center at East Junior High School in recognition of her service to education.
Vickie enjoyed fly-fishing, hiking in the Boise foothills, reading, and traveling in her RV. She planned to travel widely in retirement and was grateful that she had the opportunity to visit Kenya and Egypt before her illness.
Vickie married Doyle Simmons in 1967; they later divorced. Their son, Brian, was born in Medford, Oregon in 1972, and she was immensely proud of the independent, self-reliant, capable person that he has become.
Vickie had a circle of friends who valued her dearly and grieve her loss in their lives. Most importantly among them is her best friend, Melinda Lindsey, who shared her home for more than 29 years and cared for her in her journey with cancer.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to Vickie may be made to the Boise Schools Education Foundation, 8169 W. Victory Rd., Boise, ID 83709.
A celebration of her life will be arranged for family, friends, and colleagues in the near future.
Published in Idaho Statesman on April 10, 2011
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