Etta “Elaine” Vick

Memorial services for Etta “Elaine” Vick, 84, Lawrence, will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at First United Methodist Church in Lawrence. Mrs. Vick died Thursday, May 31, 2007, at Brandon Woods Retirement Center in Lawrence.She was born Aug. 23, 1922, near White City, the daughter of Frank and Golda Good Leonard. She was valedictorian of her graduating class in 1939. She was a Watkins scholar at Kansas University from 1939 to 1941. She attended Tony Wicher’s photo school in Topeka. She received a Bachelor of Arts in general studies in 1985 and a Master of Social Welfare in 1991, both from KU.Mrs. Vick worked in photography studios in Corvallis, Ore., and Lincoln, Neb. She and her husband, Allen, moved to Burlington and opened Vick Studio in 1946. They moved to Lawrence in 1961. In 1977 they moved to the Baldwin City area and ran the studio there until the late 1990s. Mrs. Vick also worked at KU in the physics and astronomy department for more than 10 years.She was instrumental in development of the Ballard Center and served as a secretary on the founding board. She was an advocate for both civil and human rights. She and her husband served as emergency foster care providers for many years. She also advocated for the elderly and nursing homes. Mrs. Vick was a member of First United Methodist Church in Lawrence. She was active in the United Methodist Women’s Association and involved in mission work. She was also a member of the Photography Association.She married Norman Allen Vick on Nov. 11, 1945, in Baldwin City. He survives, of Lawrence.Other survivors include a son, Kevan Vick and wife Gail, Lawrence; two daughters, Shari Raybern and husband Don, Lawrence, and Ardith Meadows, Topeka; 11 grandchildren, Ryan, Colby and Hannah Vick, Jennifer and Kelli Raybern, Jon and Aaron Meadows, Maria Wikle, Nicole Brundage and Kristina and Nikolas Rasmussen; four great-grandchildren, Raven, Kaylyn, A’santi and Caden; and several stepgrandchildren. Mrs. Vick was preceded in death by a daughter, Lynette Rasmussen, and four brothers, Wilbur, Alvin, Wayne and Phillip.The family suggests memorials to the American Cancer Society, Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association in Topeka or First United Methodist Church, sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.Online condolences may be sent at www.warrenmcelwain.com, subject: Vick.