Vicki Denice Gammon

1957 - 2021

Vicki Denice Gammon (Thompson)
June 6, 1957- February 24, 2021
Our amazing wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, step-mom, substitute mom Vicki Denice Gammon has left us and while heartbroken for our loss we are jubilant that she is at peace. The effervescent energy that was her vivacious and generous presence on this mortal earth will carry on her journey to whatever the universe may hold in store. May peace and joy replace your pain.
She is survived by her spouse of over 34 years Chris S. Thompson, daughter Ciara Gammon, step-son Joshua Thompson, granddaughters Ariya, Estelle, and Daphne, siblings Kathyrn Frazier, Joan Stanley ,and Dennis G. Pace II.
She succumbed peacefully to her second bout of cancer at home with her family close by. Ever the fighter, she survived ten years after her first bout with cancer that was supposed to have taken her in 2011. Due to a delayed diagnosis and treatments, the fight was this time was even harder but in the end she could not prevail.
Vicki was born into and Air Force family and grew up bouncing literally from the four corners of the country. Born in Austin, TX to Dennis G. Pace and Marylou (Holland) Pace, Vicki she spent her toddler years in Washington state, early school years in South Carolina followed by Alaska then Virginia, with the family finally settling down in San Antonio where she attended Judson High School.
Performing arts were her passion participating in Choir, Drama and Pep Squad and numerous plays, she wrote poems and short stories. She completed cosmetology training and was licensed in cosmetology after graduation in 1975, before deciding to join the Air Force in 1978. She was a communications technician before being honorably discharged due to pregnancy. Vicki and her first husband, Allan Gammon, raised Ciara and lived on the family ranch outside San Antonio until their split in 1981. Vicki moved back to Austin and met Chris in the spring of 1984 and they moved in together shortly after. Ever openhearted and outgoing, Vicki seldom met a person or pet she did not like or could not win over. She was that tenacious "handful" of a Texas woman you hear legends about. She loved the outdoors and boating, camping, gatherings with friends, and going to concerts and festivals were the regular family routine. She loved shopping for tie dyed dresses and ear rings.
Using her veteran's preference, she got maximum scores on her Post Office exams and started as a janitor in 1989. She excelled and rose in the ranks to be one of the few female maintenance technicians at the Austin mail plant. Numerous neck surgeries (5) from work related injuries forced her off of work duties in 2001 and resulted in her chronic pain condition that plagued her to the end.
Vicki loved people but maybe even more, her pets and animals in general. Having helped birth, hamsters, 9 litters of Labrador pups and our current poodle yapper, Rocky, she was a devoted pet momma. A stray (animal or person) was seldom turned away. In accordance with her generosity, donations in her name to Austin Pets Alive or the Capital Area Food Bank are requested in lieu of flowers or food.
A celebration of her life is planned (per applicable COVID guidelines) for June 5, 2021, just shy of what would be her 64th birthday. Details will be forthcoming.