Vicki K. Mills

Victoria K. Mills of Lake Forest, Illinois, passed peacefully in her home on January 23, 2023. In death as in life, Vicki was dressed to the nines for her swansong. She orchestrated her exodus from her opulent-meets-over-the-top manse to the Couture Closet in the sky with the same grace, kindness, and Southern charm that she bestowed upon all who knew her.

Vicki's happiness was infectious. Her friends say she wouldn't let them be sad or speak badly of themselves or anyone else. Anytime they were down they would say "Get on the Vicki Train!" Vicki made every day of the week an off-the-rails fabulous ride for friends, family, and anyone she picked up along the way. Dinner and lunch plans were in rollicking rotation. Life with Vicki was magical, and every moment was celebrated with pomp and circumstance. Her Fourth of July and New Year's Eve parties were the stuff of legend.

Vicki's story began in Roanoke, Virginia with her parents Adolph and Ruth Krisch. She was a wild child with a taste for adventure – often sneaking her parent's car out for joy rides and corrupting her younger cousin Freddie by having him put cocktails in his mailbox before she hit the dances at Virginia Military Institute. She was summarily sent to boarding school after these stunts, but never finished high school or attended college. Vicki was too busy schooling the world around her in how to live!

Cousins from Roanoke were an important part of her life. Vicki had reunions with them for thirty-some years at her Lake Forest home. She was the glue-on glitter that held the family together.

Vicki's story continued to bloom when she met and married Jim Mills, the love of her life, in 1973. Jim adored Vicki and told her each day she was beautiful and hid a gift for her each day calling himself the "Good Fairy."

Vicki had her own gift of collecting objet d'art from the sublime to the self-described ridiculous. From kitsch to couture, diamonds to dirt-cheap baubles, furniture, accessories, art, and accoutrement spanning the bridge from the iconic to the absurd – Vicki's procurements were not for the timid.

She never met a rhinestone she didn't like, and glitter was part of her DNA. For Vicki dressing was fun and she created her own signature suits with lace, crystals, embroidery and feathers.

Her extensive collection of Judith Leiber bejeweled bags led to a long friendship with Judith and her husband Gus. Vicki's closet was even the inspiration for a fashion column called "Walk-In Closet" that ran in a regional magazine for ten years.

Despite (or perhaps because of) these eccentricities, Vicki devoted herself to Jim and helped him grow his business, Medline Industries, into a successful, nationally known medical supply company. Vicki was always the belle of the ball, but never failed to make her guests, employees, and peers feel special and appreciated with gifts, tokens of appreciation, and an inherent and genuine warmth. Vicki loved to give. It filled her heart to give away money – even to total strangers. She put her signature Vicki Heart on every gift.

Over the decades, Vicki and Jim entertained over 8,000 customers in their historic home – most of them spending the night in the numerous themed bedrooms. She made customers, friends, and everyone she met feel special and looked after.

Vicki was part of an exceptional group of friends that dubbed themselves "The Napkin Club" that formed when Jim and Vicki moved to Lake Forest in 1978. They gathered formally and loosely over the years and Vicki was chief instigator, and keeper of those relationships – and the bar was always open.

Every night, Jimmy would tell Vicki to "Say goodnight, Vicki" and she would say "Goodnight, Vicki" signaling that it was time to go.

So, Goodnight, Vicki – planet earth will be boring as hell without you, but thanks for the ride of our lives!

Vicki is survived by her children Margueritte Jackson, Deidre Grubb, Charlie Mills, Donnie Mills, and Peggy Baker (John) and her grandchildren Joseph Jackson, Miriam Jackson, Davis Grubb, Rosalie Grubb, Adam Mills, Tessa Mills, Julia Mills, Blair Baker, Hayden Baker, and Wilson Baker.