Vivian Sue (Nielson) McCormick, 66, of Baxter Springs, KS, passed away at 2:55 p.m., Thursday, March 5, 2015, at Freeman Hospital, Joplin, MO.
She was born on July 26, 1948, at Miami, Oklahoma, the daughter of Oluf E. and Ada Norene (Brown) Neilson. Vivian attended Quapaw, Oklahoma public schools and graduated from Quapaw High School in 1966. In 1967, she graduated from Stapp's Cosmetology School in Joplin, Missouri and in 1995 received her BS degree in Technical Education from Pittsburg State University.
On May 6, 1967, she was united in marriage to Ted McCormick at the Quapaw Baptist Church, where Vivian was very active. In 1968, Ted and Vivian moved to Pittsburg, Kansas where Ted was a professor in the Technical Education Department while Vivian worked at the Kansas Teachers Credit Union. In 1977, Ted and Vivian built their home east of Pittsburg where they lived for over 25 years. During that time, Vivian enjoyed staying home to raise her children while being the local "Avon Lady". She was also very active in many organizations. She held several offices in various organizations, such as the Crawford County 4-H club, Pittsburg Renaissance FCE, College Heights Methodist Church, Joplin Iris Society, Democratic Party, PSU Faculty Wives to name a few. Vivian's career expanded beyond her life with her family. In 1985, Vivian started working at PSU for Kansas VICA Association. She then became the Director of Skills USA-VICA in 1991, making her the first woman director of the organization. In 1993, she received the VICA Kansas State Director of the Year, and before Vivian's retirement in 2003, she received the Arch of Fame Award for K-ACTE in Topeka. Vivian was later honored by SkillsUSA with the Kansas Lifetime Membership Award. Most recently she was asked to join the board of directors for SkillsUSA as their endowment chair. Vivian's current career was as an aquatic instructor at the Joplin YMCA where she had a great following. Vivian above all things was a wonderful, loving wife, mother and Mimi to her grandchildren. Her entire life revolved around loving and caring for her family. She was an expert of making memories with them!
She is survived by her husband, Ted M. McCormick of 47 years of marriage. She is also survived by her daughter, Audra McCormick Trites and her husband, Mike of Lenexa, KS, and her son, T. Michael McCormick, Jr. and his wife, Mary Kay of Olathe, KS. She has five grandchildren; Andrew and Alex Trites as well as Hanna, Michaela and Theodore McCormick III, Thor. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 14, 2105 at College Heights United Methodist Church, Pittsburg, with Rev. Marty Warren officiating. Burial will follow in the Garden of Memories Cemetery, Pittsburg. The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., Friday, at the Brenner Mortuary. The casket will remain closed. The family suggests memorials to Kansas SkillsUSA. These may be left at or mailed to the Brenner Mortuary, 114 E. 4th St., Pittsburg, KS 66762. Friends may leave condolences online at www.brennermortuary.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Brenner Mortuary, Pittsburg, KS.
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