Seed Legacy Vicki Chenier

 

Vicki Lynn Bolander-McCannon-Chenier was born in Raytown, Missouri on April 17th, 1956. She was preceded in death by her father Perry Bolander and her mother Sybil Bowling-Bolander. Vicki is survived by her brother Ronald Bolander.

Sybil, Vicki and Perry Bolander

Vicki is survived by three children from her first marriage to Forrest McCannon; son Jeremy McCannon in 1975, daughter Jami McCannon-Langdon in 1978, and son Zachariah McCannon in 1981. Vicki is survived by six grandchildren. Jami's children; Wyli and Ghavin. Jeremy's children; Max and Violet. And Zack's children; Winfield and Leo. Vicki is survived by one great-grandchild; Wyli's son, Kyri.

Vicki Lynn Chenier passed away on April 3rd, 2024 in Conway, Arkansas (1957-2024)

Vicky's father Perry was the Station Master at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri and her mother Sybil was a Certified Nurse. Vicki was born with three holes in her heart, leading to an open heart surgery operation when she was three years old, becoming the youngest person to have ever done the operation at the time. Vicki Lynn was a fighter and recovered from the operation - going on to collect Friends and Family for the rest of her life. 

In 1993, Vicki married Michael Chenier and they packed up the three kids and a dog named Odie and moved out of the hustling-bustling life in North Kansas City to a 40 acre wooded plot of land in Ray County, Missouri along Firebranch Creek. In-and-around their five bedroom underground home tucked into a ridge line facing east; Vicki and Mike carved out a homestead with a large kitchen, indoor houseplants, outdoor vegetable gardens, chickens, wildlife food plots, rock and railroad tile walls, deer stands, and with Mike and Vicki being a social and lively couple, they hosted many-a-get-together in which the clinking of horseshoes, tea glasses, and an occasional beer bottle could be heard echoing down Firebranch Road. Vicki and Mike were members of the Knoxville Community Church for many years during their time in Ray County.

Vicki and Mike had a large metal "barn" erected in the early 2000's which served as the perfect gathering spot with large doors rolled up on each side. Also during the early 2000's, Vicki's mother, Sybil Milligan came to live in a small home between the house and shop. So too did Vicki's father Perry live the remaining years of his life in her care. Fiercely proud of her father's career as Kansas City's Union Station Master, Vicki worked meticulously to contribute his artifacts for loan and donation to the revitalization of the historic Union Station.

On an application for a waitress job in the 1980's, written in impeccable penmanship, Vicki lists Gardening and Carpentry as her hobbies. She loved remodeling her homes and filling them up with house plants, extending to outdoor vegetable and flower gardens, small waterfall pond gardens, and her specialty, Secret Gardens. 

Vicki was a "jack of all trades" and that spilled over into her professional career. Electronics assembling, Pharmacy Tech, Ammunition factory work, independent Avon and Perfume sales to list a few. Maybe the most telling of her personality was her Waitress career. Vicki loved talking to people and making new friends. She loved to teach and explain how things worked.

After the passing of Michael Chenier in 2013, Vicki moved to Conway, Arkansas where she was a member of the Church of Christ. Vicki was a strong believer in Christ and studied the Bible often making notes and highlighting important scripture, allowing Jesus to be a model to handle the many hardships and blessings that weaved through her life. 

During her later years, Vicki enjoyed meeting new people, babysitting the grand kids, and socializing but also valued her personal time with her dogs and cats - her home on several acres situated on a cliff overlooking Conway was a perfect backdrop to continue her love of working in the garden and tackling carpentry projects. Many of her plants, seeds, and garden art were saved by her children and will continue to carry on the memory of her love for nature. 

Vicki Chenier's "Celebration of Life" will be held on April 27, 2025 4pm at Powell Gardens; Kansas City's Botanical Garden located at 1609 N.W. U.S. Highway 50, Kingsville, Missouri 64061.