Marietta Vickrey

Marietta Jeanne Vickrey (Gerbe), age 75, passed away peacefully on November 6, 2023, surrounded by the love of her family. Family was everything to Marietta and she was happiest when she was with them. She was born to the late Raymond George Gerbe and Helen Bernadette Gerbe (Gabriel), and is survived by her two daughters, Jennifer (Bryon) Higgins of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Leslie (Collin Williams) Vickrey of Breckenridge, Colorado. She had four grandchildren, Gabby (25), Sydney (22) and Jack (19) Higgins, and Greyson (7) Williams. Each one of them brought her complete joy. She loved attending every swim and track meet, lacrosse, basketball and football game, concert, parade and talent show, and any other school related event possible; she adored taking her youngest grandson to his favorite Spirit Halloween, Party City and Chuck E. Cheese, reading with him, playing games and doing arts and crafts; she also got pleasure from taking her grandkids and their friends to the movies, the park and iHop for pancakes.

She cherished going to church and Sunday dinners prepared by her son-in-law Bryon (as long as it wasn’t too spicy, didn’t have peas and was well-done!). She loved spending time on Lake Michigan, going “North” to the family cottage, her trips to Chicago to visit Leslie and her family and shop at her favorite stores. She cherished her vacations to Florida with her sister, her visits to Manistee, her many company award trips where she would treat her parents to a vacation, as well as joining Leslie at conferences in beautiful places. Most recently she got to experience Disney with her grandson Greyson, of which she did with all of her grandkids over the years. Celebrating holidays and birthdays were special to Marietta, and her tradition of making cut-out cookies, homemade spaghetti sauce and meatballs, and pistachio pudding at Christmas will carry on.

Marietta was a determined, passionate, hardworking force to be reckoned with earning her bachelor's degree while working full time and raising her daughters. She didn’t stop there and was one class away from finishing her Master of Science degree, achieved her Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation, Series 7 License, and countless other certifications; education was something very important to her. She rose through the ranks in her career holding many leadership positions at Security Federal Credit Union, Flint Municipal Credit Union and AAA.  She served as the President of OPEIU 393 AFL-CIO, the board of the Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE), and cherished volunteering for the Crim Fitness Foundation and the Sam Duncan Scholarship Fund. Growing up in St. Clair Shores with a few years in Manistee, Marietta was an amazing water skier and avid boater. She loved plays and was a long-time volunteer at The Civic Theatre in Grand Rapids and the Forest Hills Center for the Performing Arts.

Marietta is also survived by her three siblings who she loved and appreciated very much: Linda (Larry) Huyghe of Shelby Township; Joseph (Terrie) Gerbe of Oxford; and Raymond (Lynette) Gerbe of Manistee; her four grandchildren and eight nieces and nephews Danielle (Pauly) Bielby; Joey (Marla) Gerbe; godson Jeffrey (Gina) Gerbe, godson Patrick Huyghe, Breanne (Rob) Wright; Shannon Kochis; Carolynn (Randy) Huyghe; Nathan (Brennan) Gerbe.

Visitation will be Friday, November 17, from 4-7 p.m. at Sparks-Griffin Funeral Home, 111 East Flint Street, Lake Orion, Michigan.

Her celebration of life will be held Saturday, November 18, 2023, at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 715 N Lapeer Road, Lake Orion, Michigan.

In Lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the American Heart Association , American Diabetes Association , or a scholarship in her honor as part of the American Staffing Association’s Women in Leadership Scholarship Program . Simply click here , enter your information, choose your donation amount, scroll to Tribute Donation field and enter Marietta Vickrey. The program supports rising up women in their careers, something that was near and dear to her heart, and an organization both of her daughters are a part of.