Vicki Burk (Smith) George, 78, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 10, 2025.
She was born to Herman and Mary Ann (Burk) Smith in Greenville, TX, on January 17th, 1947. She graduated from Greenville High School, where she was a cheerleader, and active in student council and choir. Upon graduation she attended East Texas State University, where she pledged Gamma Phi Beta and was very active in sorority activities and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education. Years later, she returned to earn a Master of Arts in English. She served as an educator, teaching English Language Arts. She started her career in Wolfe City, TX. Later, she moved to Palestine, TX, where she taught 6th grade English at Westwood Middle School and co-sponsored the 8th grade cheerleaders. Towards the end of her career, she transferred to the Wyndham School District and taught at the Coffield Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, from which she eventually retired.
She loved reading, gardening and watching blue birds and hummingbirds outside her window. She was selfless and non-judgmental; she was devoted to her nephews and treated her grandnephews and nieces as if they were her own grandchildren. She was always extremely close to Jodi; towards the end of her life, she moved to Abilene so they could be close to each other. She always looked forward to Jodi taking her for a cheeseburger, which became their preferred outings.
She was preceded in death by her parents. She was survived by her daughter, Jodi (George) Roggendorff, and her husband, Paul, of Abilene, TX; her sister Cathy (Smith) Stark and her husband, Roy, of Palestine, TX; her brother James Smith and his wife Sharon (Geissler) Smith, of Tyler, TX. Vicki is also survived by her nephews and their families: Brent Stark and his wife Amy, and their children Grant and Clark; and Todd Stark and his wife Monica, and their children Sophia, Olivia, and Harry.
A memorial service and celebration of Vicki’s life will be held at Bailey and Foster Chapel in Palestine, TX, at 2:00 pm on September 20th, 2025.
In lieu of flowers the family request that donations be made to BARC/ Anderson County Humane Society, 335 Armory Rd., Palestine, TX 75803.
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