With her loving family at her side, Vicki Lea Korkow peacefully passed away on July 17, 2023, at Ivinson Memorial Hospital in Laramie, Wyoming. She was 71 years old.
Born August 29, 1951, to Robert and Mary Lou Korkow, Vicki grew up on her family ranch north of Hanna, Wyoming, where she loved to work in the hayfield, fix fences, and ride horses. In her youth, Vicki was an active student at Hanna High School, participating in cheerleading, Future Homemakers of America, National Honor Society, Booster Club, speech, choir, and other student activities. She graduated in 1969 and remained a steadfast friend to many of her schoolmates.
Vicki valued ranch life and instilled a lifelong love for animals and the outdoors in her three children, Rick, Jake, and Melissa. She will be remembered as an affectionate mother, and her children will forever cherish their camping trips with her in the Shirley Mountains. Not only did Vicki dote on her children, but she also loved and treated her children’s friends as her own and adored her many nieces and nephews.
Throughout her life, Vicki was passionate about writing and penned countless poems, letters, and stories, several reflecting her family and life on the ranch. She also enjoyed rock hunting, watching Westerns, listening to country music, visiting Thermopolis, and swimming. Vicki especially treasured her time spent with her grandchildren and talking with her dear friends on the phone. Christmas Eve was one of Vicki’s favorite celebrations. For the last several years, she hosted the holiday for her children and their families, serving traditional oyster stew and Tom and Jerry’s and sharing the evening with those she loved most.
A self-described country girl, Vicki enjoyed all aspects of agriculture. She partook in 4H as a youngster and later supported her children as they competed at the Carbon County and Wyoming State Fairs. Watching rodeo and reading stories about Western traditions were some of her most entertaining pastimes.
Vicki worked in several fields, but her various careers in education were her favorite and most rewarding. She earned her Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Wyoming and loved working with children. She taught and counseled all age groups and inspired her students to be kind and work hard, two traits Vicki exemplified.
Vicki is predeceased by her beloved grandparents, Belfield and Elizabeth Young; parents, Robert and Mary Lou Korkow; sister, Debbie Axtell; and nieces, Kelly Black and Lindsey Korkow. She is survived and deeply missed by her three children, Rick Jones (Sarah), Jake Jones (Staci), and Melissa Proffitt (Aaron); grandchildren, Landon Jones (Rick), Dalton (Heidi), Chandler, and Ian Jones (Jake), and Kyler Proffitt (Melissa); siblings, Vonnie Romano (Gene), Valerie Black (Richard), Robert Korkow, Jr. (Kim), Larry Korkow, and Burt Korkow (Tammy); and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A memorial service for Vicki is scheduled for later this summer with final interment at the Korkow Ranch.
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