Date of Birth
July 4, 1954
Date of Death
December 1, 2021
Vickie Barefoot Phelps, 67, of Tampa, Florida, passed away on December 1, 2021 at her home in Tampa.
Vickie was born in Greensboro, North Carolina to Bunyan and Ruth Barefoot on July 4, 1954. She married Steven Kirk Phelps on August 7, 1988 in Wheaton, Maryland. She was always active in serving people in her local churches in several states. Vickie used her artistic talents through calligraphy and pencil sketching. She also appreciated hand crafted pottery and blown glass works. During her years in Tampa, she took up gardening roses of many bright colors and exotic scents.
Vickie’s was a life of service. She attracted people wherever she went and showed such empathy and compassion that many became lifelong friends. The letters, emails, and poems that poured in during her last weeks spoke movingly of how life-changing her love had been in so many lives.
The thirty-five years she spent battling Rheumatoid Arthritis was a powerful example to others and inspired many in their own struggles. Despite the devastation of her illness, she was not defined by it. Vickie had a wicked grin and a great sense of humor. She found laughter in the darkest of times.
She enjoyed travel, whether to her favorite Outer Banks or to Germany, Italy, New Zealand or Switzerland. She delighted in the adventure of new food, new sights, and new friends.
Family meant everything to her, from the one she formed with Steve and his parents, to the lifelong friends she made, to her birth family of seven siblings. She loved good food and loved even more sharing it with family and friends. Those times together were her favorites.
Vickie is preceded in death by her parents, Bunyan Wesley Barefoot and Margaret Ruth Earnheart Barefoot and brothers-in-law Douglas Paul Phelps and John Welles Wilder, Jr.
Vickie is survived by her husband, Steven, and siblings Dawn Wilder, Miles (Lynn) Barefoot, Martha (Bob) Tilyard, Cathy (Dick) Guidetti, Claiborne (Holly) Barefoot, Penny (Keith) Teague, and Richard (Sherry) Barefoot, Ted and Norrain Phelps, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 6 – 8 pm on Friday, December 10th at Blount & Curry Funeral Home, 3207 West Bearss Ave., Tampa.
A memorial service will be held at 3:30 pm on Saturday, December 11th at Hope Bible Church of Tampa, 5706 North Hesperides St., Tampa. Pastor Steven J. Hogan will be officiating.
Burial will be taking place at 1:30 pm on Friday, December 17th at Kaneville Cemetery in Kaneville, Illinois. A reception with the family will take place at Kaneville Methodist Church immediately following the graveside service.
Memorials may be given in Vickie’s honor to Grace Place School located at http://graceplaceschool.org/donate/ Please see link below.
Vickie’s family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to LifePath Hospice for allowing us to grant Vickie’s wishes to pass comfortably and quietly at home. The many nurses and support staff who provided 24/7 service made all the difference to her and her family during the last weeks of her life.
Burial will be taking place at 1:30 pm on Friday, December 17th at Kaneville Cemetery in Kaneville, Illinois. A reception with the family will take place at Kaneville Methodist Church immediately following the graveside service.