Clara Marie Vick transitioned from Earthly Life on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 in the comfort of her home in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The family will greet visitors from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 1 at the Strode Funeral Home Chapel in Stillwater. Her funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, July 2 at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Stillwater. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Strode Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Shortly after her birth in Coyle, Oklahoma on September 24, 1921 to Ralph Hampton and Rosie (Peck) Hampton, her mother died. Father and children relocated. She lived with relatives in Crescent, Perkins, and other Oklahoma locations, but eventually settled in Luther, Oklahoma where she was reared by her loving “Papa” Ralph and step-mother Laura. Clara had two brothers, Eugene and Walter and two sisters, Hazel and Reda.

After graduating from Luther Washington High School, Clara moved to Stillwater with grandparents, Erazmus and Lula (Sparks) Hampton. Clara then moved to Detroit, Michigan in 1943 to work and live with her loving Aunt Frances. Though she cherished the time with Detroit relatives, she longed to return to her precious Oklahoma roots where she and her sister, Hazel, cared for their grandparents until their deaths.

Clara met and married Calvin Vick in Stillwater, where they reared their four children: Sharon, Randle, Ralph, and Ruben. They later fostered two sons, Tommy and Willie, then a grandson, Randle, Jr.

Clara was devoted to her family, church, and community. All who knew her, loved and respected her leadership, beauty, and spirit. She was a member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church and held offices in multiple auxiliaries, including President of the Deaconess Board, and finally as Mother of the Church.

Later in life, she graduated from Langston University with a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education. She was a teacher at the Head Start program prior to opening her own day care center from which she finally retired. She had membership and held offices in the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Beta Phi Zeta Chapter and Queen Bathsheba Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, Prince Hall Affiliation, Jurisdiction of Oklahoma.

Clara volunteered and participated at the Project Heart Senior Lunch Program since its doors opened in 1980 until her health prevented her from continuing. She also served with the Payne County Election Board.

She is preceded in death by her husband of many years, Calvin; mother, Rosie; parents, Ralph and Laura; brothers, Eugene and Walter; sisters, Hazel and Reda; and granddaughter, Jennifer.

Clara is survived by her children, Sharon (Granville) Prince of the home, Randle (Staci) Vick of Tulsa, Ralph (Brenda) of Irving, TX, and Ruben (Sharon) Vick of Owasso; special other daughters, Oletha Murry of Freemont, CA and Verla Prince Honesty (Ronald) of Dallas, TX; grandchildren, Gerri Prince Rivers of Columbus, OH, Randle Vick, Jr. (DeAnna) of Owasso, Tamara, Regina, Eric (Paula), Raven all of Tulsa, Terry Dewayne Vick, Eric Lee Vick and Desmond Orlando Gregory Vick all of Irving, TX, Taylor DeAnn Vick of Shawnee, and Marcus G. Vick of Tulsa; more than 20 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great grandchildren.

She also leaves behind three very special nieces, Mayme Crawford of Sand Springs, Marva (Marvin) Williamson and Linda Bennett of Oklahoma City; very special cousins, Georgia Davis, Joann and Pauline Crawford, and Fay Burris; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

The family wishes to thank the caregivers from Judith Karman Hospice. Memorial contributions may be made to Judith Karman Hospice, 915 S Main St, Stillwater, OK 74074.

Condolences may be emailed to the family and an online obituary may be viewed by visiting www.strodefh.com .

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