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Vicki Lynn (Trede) Ealy, a beloved wife, mother and member of the Johnston, Iowa, community, died peacefully on March 26, 2024, at the age of 77. Surrounded by family during her final days, she passed away at Edencrest at Beaverdale in Des Moines, leaving behind a family who will remember her for her strength, warmth and appreciation for life’s simple pleasures.

Born in Davenport, Iowa, on April 19, 1946, Vicki built a life shaped by family, music, reading, gardening and creative pursuits. Her journey included major life changes, personal challenges and the determination to face difficult circumstances with resilience. Her family obituary offers a portrait of a woman whose lasting legacy rests in the relationships she nurtured and the experiences she shared with those closest to her. <Cite refs={[“turn304345search0”]} />

Vicki Trede Ealy: Personal Details

Early Life in Davenport, Iowa

Vicki was born in Davenport on April 19, 1946, to Woodrow and Dorothy (Behm) Trede. She was the third of four sisters and spent her childhood and early adult years in Davenport.

During her early working life, she was employed at Iowa-Illinois Electric. Those years formed part of the foundation of a life that would later take her and her family to different parts of the country.

Vicki’s story was not defined by one place alone. Her experiences across several states reflected a life of change and adjustment, while her family remained a central source of connection and belonging.

Marriage to Philip Ealy and Building a Family

Vicki met Philip Ealy in 1981, and the two married on January 19, 1982. Their wedding took place on an exceptionally cold day, but the occasion was remembered for its love and joy.

Phil had promised to show Vicki the country, and over the years they lived in six different states. Through those moves and changes, they raised their two daughters, Megan and Amanda, building a family life filled with shared experiences.

Their years together represented a long partnership through changing homes, responsibilities and personal challenges. Vicki’s obituary reflects the importance of that partnership and the family they created.

A Life Enriched by Music, Reading and Creativity

Among Vicki’s greatest pleasures were music, reading, gardening and crafting. These interests offered opportunities for enjoyment, reflection and creativity throughout her life.

Gardening can provide a quiet connection with the changing seasons, while reading and music can offer comfort and inspiration. Crafting brings the satisfaction of creating something by hand. Together, these interests help illustrate the personal side of Vicki’s life beyond the milestones of work, marriage and parenthood.

Her family will carry forward the memories associated with these everyday pleasures, along with the moments that made their time together meaningful.

Resilience Through Life’s Challenges

Vicki’s family remembered her for the strength she showed when facing difficult circumstances. Her experiences included moving between states, helping remodel an 1850s farmhouse, overcoming colon cancer and later living with Alzheimer’s disease.

Each challenge brought its own demands, requiring patience and perseverance from Vicki and those who supported her. Her experience with Alzheimer’s was particularly significant during her later years, as the condition affected her life and the lives of her loved ones.

Her obituary does not reduce her life to these health struggles. Instead, it presents them as part of a broader story of resilience, family devotion and the many experiences that shaped her.

Family Members and Loved Ones

Vicki is survived by her husband, Philip “Phil” Ealy, and their daughters, Megan, who lives in Nixa, Missouri, and Amanda, who lives in Des Moines, Iowa.

She is also survived by her sisters Dona Hendrickson of Grinnell, Iowa, and Gayle Trede of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, along with several sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Woodrow and Dorothy Trede; her sister Sandy Jamison; and her brother-in-law Jack Hendrickson.

These family connections form the heart of Vicki’s memorial. For those closest to her, her absence represents the loss of a wife, mother, sister and relative whose life was woven into their own through years of shared experiences. <Cite refs={[“turn304345search0”]} />

Vicki Trede Ealy’s Memorial Service and Burial

A memorial service for Vicki was held on Friday, March 29, 2024, at New Hope United Methodist Church in Des Moines, Iowa. The service took place from 11:00 a.m. to noon.

Inurnment followed at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines. These arrangements gave family members and friends an opportunity to gather, reflect on Vicki’s life and pay their respects.

The services have already taken place, and the published funeral-home obituary remains a record of the arrangements and the family’s remembrance. <Cite refs={[“turn304345search0”]} />

Family’s Appreciation for Care and Support

Vicki’s family expressed gratitude to the staff at Edencrest at Beaverdale and the staff and volunteers at WesleyLife Hospice for the care provided during her final year.

Their acknowledgment recognizes the important role that caregivers and hospice teams can play in supporting people and their families during a difficult period. Compassionate care can help preserve dignity and provide practical and emotional support when families are facing serious illness and bereavement.

The family also suggested memorial donations to the Alzheimer’s Association or WesleyLife in Vicki’s memory.

Remembering Vicki Lynn Ealy

Vicki’s life was marked by family commitment, curiosity, creativity and determination. From her early years in Davenport to her marriage to Phil and the raising of their daughters, she experienced a lifetime of changes and milestones.

Her love of gardening, music, reading and crafting offers a glimpse of the things that brought her joy. Her ability to face major challenges, including cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, forms another important part of the legacy her family has described.

At 77, Vicki left behind a family and a network of loved ones who will continue to remember her through stories, shared traditions and the ordinary moments that often become the most precious after someone has died.

May Vicki Trede Ealy be remembered with love, and may her husband, daughters, sisters and extended family find comfort in the memories they hold.

Disclaimer

This obituary tribute is based on information published by Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home & Crematory and related obituary coverage. Dates, family relationships and service details reflect the published memorial. Memorial donations should be directed through the relevant organizations’ official channels, and readers should consult the funeral home’s obituary for any additional information.