William Vance Vickers, 79, of Montgomery, passed away on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at his home, surrounded by his loving family. Vance was born on November 8, 1945, in Center, to Ross and Paunee Lord Vickers. Vance grew up in Sabine County and attended school in Hemphill where his mother was a teacher. He was a great athlete and loved playing all sports. After graduating Hemphill High School in 1964, he attended college for one year before joining the United States Air Force. He was stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska for much of his service where he served as an air traffic control radio operator during the Vietnam War. After returning home, he first worked for his father, as a butcher at the Vickers Grocery Store. Later, he worked for Vickers, Young, and McCoury Chevrolet dealerships in Hemphill and Roper Motor Company in San Augustine and Hemphill.

With a heart for service, Vance was an active participant in local school, civic and community organizations. His patience and kind nature made him a natural teacher and his love for words and learning contributed to his success in all endeavors. He especially loved attending any kind of ball game and may be most notably remembered as the “Voice of the Hornets” on KAWS radio and later “Voice of the San Augustine Wolves”.

Vance later returned to college to earn his bachelor’s degree in education, graduating from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1999, where he walked across the stage, back-to-back with his son, Ross. He was employed by San Augustine ISD and Conroe ISD, before retiring in 2009.

Since childhood, Vance was a member of New Hope Baptist Church where he also raised his family and served as Deacon and Sunday School teacher. He recently shared with his family that he first accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior when he was 12 years old at a “country revival” led by Brother Buddy Pratt. After moving to Montgomery County, he was an active member of Christ Church Methodist and Walden Community Churches. Vance loved the Lord and loved others according to His example. He believed that Jesus died on the cross as atonement for our sin, and that through this gift, we can have eternal life. He taught his children to love the Lord and that acceptance of Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior is the only way to salvation. He continued to share this message through the end of his life and looked forward to meeting Jesus face to face, in a glory “we cannot fathom.”

Vance is survived by his wife of 54 years, the love of his life, Juanice Clark Vickers, and their children Elizabeth Ann Vickers Tolleson (Aaron) of Shoreacres, Jennifer Joann (J.J.) Vickers Daw (Joe) of Montgomery, and Ross Vance Vickers (Cristen) of The Woodlands. Vance and Juanice built a life that revolved around their three children and their families; so much so, they relocated to the Houston area to be near them. Vance and Juanice have cherished countless meals, holidays, celebrations, sporting events and school performances spent with their grandchildren Heather Tolleson Alarcon (Adrian), Charles Tolleson, Rebekah Tolleson Grant (Kody), Sydney Daw (Andrew), Caylee Vickers, Cate Vickers, and great grandson Zeke Tolleson. He is also survived by his sister and brother-in-law Betsy and George Cox, brother-in-law Jimmy Clark, sister-inlaw Tommie Hawkins, and a host of nieces and nephews.

Vance is preceded in death by his parents, Ross and Paunee Lord Vickers, brother and sister-in-law Jimmy and Martha Vickers, sister Susie Clark, sister-in-law Kay Boudreaux, and brother-in-law Kenneth Hawkins.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at Starr Funeral Home Chapel, 510 Starr Street, Hemphill, Texas, with Dr. Daniel T. Hannon officiating and Mike Vickers delivering the eulogy.

Visitation will take place on Friday, April 11, 2025, from 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Burial will follow at Vance E. Vickers Cemetery with Mike Vickers, Vance Vickers, Cooper Terry, Brian Cox, Shane Allman, Matt Clark, and Jacob Horne serving as pall bearers. Honorary pallbearers are Charles Tolleson, Adrian Alarcon, Kody Grant, Andrew Flett, and Zeke Tolleson.

Memories and condolences may be shared at starrfuneralhome. com.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the following in Vance’s name.

Vance E. Vickers Cemetery c/o Christy Allman 615 Sabine Street Hemphill, Texas 75948 MD Anderson Cancer Center PO Box 4486 Houston, Texas 77210