Vickie Quinley

Vickie Turner Quinley, 68, of Twin Falls, Idaho passed away peacefully in her home after a seventeen year battle with cancer. Vickie spent her final evenings listening to music, talking and laughing with her husband and childhood best friend. She said goodbye to a continuous stream of friends and family as she transitioned into, as she would put it, her next adventure.

Vickie Lynn Turner was born on December 8th, 1955, in Cleveland Ohio to Dale and Nellie Turner. Vickie was the third of six children: Betty, Sandy, Darlene, David and Rita. She was raised in Newport, Tennessee where she and her best friend, Pamela Ball, attended Cocke County High School together.

After high school, Vickie attended Berea College in Berea, Kentucky. It was there that she met a Chicago boy named David “Quin” Quinley. They shared a mutual love of music, art, and dancing. The two wed in a backyard garden on August 8th, 1981.

In 1984, Vickie and Quin moved to Ogden to teach at the Utah School for the Deaf. They soon welcomed their first child, Jessica. In 1986 the family moved to Gooding, Idaho where Vickie and Quin worked as teachers at the Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind. During this time Vickie also worked as a sign language interpreter.

The family moved to Jerome, Idaho in 1988. Vickie began working in public school in which she taught first and second grade at Jefferson Elementary for sixteen years. In 1993 they welcomed their second daughter, Elizabeth. Vickie’s natural ability to connect with children was evident with anyone who watched her teach. She relished sharing her love of learning with her students and daughters.

After retiring in 2016, Vickie and Quin moved to Twin Falls, Idaho. They spent their time attending musical gigs, where Vickie appointed herself as the head groupie. Vickie was an avid reader and enjoyed her book clubs, often lending books to her friends. Vickie had a gift of connecting people together, ever so slowly growing their community into a family.

Vickie was preceded in death by her father Dale, mother Nellie, sisters: Betty, Sandy, and Darlene. She is survived by her loving husband of 42 years, Quin, two daughters, Jessica Beck (James), Elizabeth McIntosh (Robert), ten year old grandson Mason, and a granddaughter arriving this summer.

The Quinley family would like to thank everyone who has supported Vickie on her journey, including the staff at St. Luke’s Cancer Center, medical oncologist Dr. Thibault, radiation oncologist Dr. Allan, general practitioner Dr. Harris, and the Visions Home Health team, especially RN Karrie Gardner.

A celebration of life will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Twin Falls

on April 27th at 1pm, followed by a music party at the Quinley home.

“What a long, strange trip it’s been.” -Jerry Garcia