Vicki Beierschmitt

Vicki Beierschmitt, 78, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, went to be with Jesus on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. She died in her home after a fierce battle with cancer. Vicki was born the second of identical twins on March 24, 1945 in Alva, Oklahoma to Wilma and Harry Coffman. She grew up in Alva where her adventures in life began early as she climbed trees, built dugout forts, and played with many animal friends along with her siblings, older brother, Tom, and twin sister, Kay. Piano recitals, Rainbow dances, 10 cent movies, and a train trip with her Grandmother out to California and Disney World combined to create magical childhood stories. She graduated from Alva High School with the class of 1963, and true to form, was active in many aspects of high school life including a State Finals doubles tennis team, and being crowned football queen…Go Goldbugs! She attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in three years (Ride, Rangers, Ride!) and was a member of the synchronized swimming team. She then continued on to Oklahoma State University to earn her Master’s degree (Go Pokes!) During those college years, she married her high school sweetheart, Billy Beierschmitt, and the bond that began when they traded dog tags in seventh grade, grew into a strong, nearly 57-year marriage. The double wedding of Bill and Vicki along with Ira Dale and Kay Campbell took place at the Methodist Church in Alva, Oklahoma on May 7, 1966. Vicki began her teaching career as a high school science teacher in Dewey, OK then moved on to teaching Physical Education in the Bartlesville Public School System. Her career spanned 29 years of teaching PE at all levels. While teaching at the elementary level, she would work with the music teachers to put on elaborate programs involving music, movement, routines, and skills to showcase her students. She organized teacher fitness programs, jump-a-thons to benefit the American Heart Association, and even started a jump rope team called the Kardiac Kids that performed at many venues. She was always learning something new as she attended and taught countless workshops, and teacher trainings, and became the go to mentor teacher for a number of student teachers. Her peers recognized her teaching excellence and voted her Teacher of the Year for Bartlesville Public Schools. Later in her career, she became fascinated by the brain/body connection and how movement affects brain development and also the importance of being out in nature to regulate the body systems. After she retired from public schools, she continued to use physical activity as a way to minister to people. She was involved with Outdoor Education opportunities, B.O.W. (Becoming an Outdoor Woman), and Project Wild. She worked at the HelmZar Challenge course in Tulsa as a Ropes Course Instructor and taught at Friday Friends Homeschool Co-op in Skiatook. She wanted her students to challenge themselves and to experience success so that it would carry over into their mindsets and improve their quality of life. She had a heart for children with special needs and with compassion and encouragement would help them try new things and celebrate their efforts! For the last several years, she became a pickle ball aficionado and incorporated that into her repertoire, teaching and competing in the growing sport. As active as she was, her family knew that they were always her first priority. She would run the vacuum at six in the morning, throw open windows because the house felt stuffy, start a load of laundry, and put something in the crockpot all before leaving for work. The girls would joke about waking up to the vacuum “alarm”, but the house was always clean, laundry always caught up, and there was always something for dinner. She enjoyed outside work as well. Many spring and summer days you could find her zooming around the yard on her lawnmower. She loved keeping the grass neat and trim. She enjoyed hosting family holiday celebrations, decorating her home lavishly for every season, and delighted in getting extended family together for reunions. She would open her home for weeks at a time every summer to care for grandchildren that were participating in Children’s Musical Theatre mainstage productions. She made sure to get them to rehearsals on time and volunteered wherever she could. Playing card games with Grandma and eating Chinese food from Szechuan were highlights of these times. Bill and Vicki traveled many miles to just be present as their grandkids participated in all kinds of extra-curricular activities like soccer, basketball, football, cross-country, track, band, choir, theatre, and winter guard. Vicki loved to create adventures for her grandkids! Whether it was camping out in the backyard, learning how to cook over a coal fire, a geo-caching treasure hunt, baking cookies, a trip to the zoo, or fishing out at the Campbell Ranch, a “Grandma Day!” was never boring. Vicki and her twin sister, Kay, are family celebrities for their own crazy brand of adventures. Always wanting to live life to the fullest they began a series of trips that make the younger generations say, “I want to be like Grandma when I grow up!” Dog sledding in Minnesota, kayaking in Florida, swimming with the manatees, scuba diving, spelunking, riding mules down the side of the Grand Canyon, hiking up mountains, rappelling down cliffs, camping out in Alaska (their husbands joined them on this trip-it was their anniversary after all!), riding in a hot air balloon, and jumping out of a plane to sky-dive in celebration of their 70th birthday! Vicki has been an active member of East Cross United Methodist Church in Bartlesville for over 50 years. Serving on committees, going on missions trips, hosting Sunday School get-togethers, and reaching out to the community have all been a regular part of her life. Vicki is survived by Bill Beierschmitt of the home. Two daughters- Marci Brewer and husband Cary of Cleveland, OK and Jamie Sizemore and husband Walter of Cleveland, OK. Twelve grandchildren- Michaela (Brewer) and husband Christopher Hansen of Moore, OK, Jaden Brewer and wife Kinsey of Cushing, OK, Tobin Brewer and wife Sarai of Bartlesville, OK, Asher Brewer and fiancé Kennedy McReynolds of Wichita, KS, Kiera Brewer, Eliana Brewer, Isaac Brewer, Carson Brewer, Emily Sizemore, Rebekah Sizemore, Samuel Sizemore, and Levi Sizemore all of Cleveland, OK, and the first great grandchild due in August. Twin sister, Kay Campbell and husband Ira Dale of Bartlesville, OK as well as a multitude of other family and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents and brother, Tom Coffman. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Hopestone, 206 SE Frank Phillips Blvd., Bartlesville, OK 74003. Services will be held on Monday, at 10 a.m., at East Cross United Methodist Church with Rev Chad Perceful officiating. Services are under the direction of Carter Davis and the Davis Family Funeral Home & Crematory – Walker Brown Chapel. Online condolences and remembrances may be shared at www.DavisFamilyFuneralHome.com.

Vicki Beierschmitt

March 24, 1945 - April 11, 2023