Vickie Annette West was a woman of virtue. She was born Dec. 3, 1953 in Ocala, FL to Hascal & Christine Hill, who raised her in a loving home until she graduated from Forest High School in 1971. The Hill family embraced the Ocala community wholeheartedly, and Vickie was no exception. She worked as a legal secretary and helped her parents run Hill’s Men’s Shop, a high-class menswear store. Soon after marrying her soulmate, David West, in 1989, Vickie moved to Dade City, FL. It became her lifelong home. Through their commitment to others, she & David would impact countless lives throughout their new community.
Vickie loved effortlessly and served selflessly, always ready with a glowing smile, a kind word, a helping hand. An unwavering Christian and stalwart member of the Dade City Church of Christ, Vickie shined her light brightly. She was a fountain of blessings and advice, brimming with compassion and wisdom, which she called common sense. She raised her children with boundless love and celebrated their accomplishments with pride. When Vickie was with her family, her heart was full.
Vickie was a talented gardener, leading the Dade City Garden Club’s Dogwood Chapter. She was a masterful cook, famous for her unbeatable chicken salad. In the early years of the Academy at the Farm, Board Chair Vickie successfully fought to keep the school open for her child and later grandchild to attend. In recent years, she was a fixture of downtown, operating Betty Cakes, selling for Kiefer Jewelers, and helping her daughter run Garden of Eden Salon. At the end of her life, Vickie and David traveled the country, often winding up in her favorite place: the beach.
Vickie left this life on Feb. 27, 2024, giving up her home here for a home with her God. She is survived by her husband of 35 years, David; children Jennifer, Jessica (Noah), and Joni (Morgan); grandchildren Matthew, Noah, Elle, Nathaniel, and Michael; and two great-grandchildren. Her mother and her sisters, Sandra and Sharon, also grieve. Vickie lives on in the lives she touched, the family she raised, and the community she helped build, looking down from heaven with a smile on her face.
In lieu of flowers, the family opened a scholarship fund in her name. Donations are appreciated at bit.ly/vickiew, clicking “Other” and entering “Vickie West fund” in the text
box.
