Quincey was born June 21, 1978, while her parents, Joyce and Ronald Vierling, lived and taught at Desert Sun School, a boarding school in the mountains at Idyllwild, California. When she was one year old, her parents accepted teaching positions at Trinity Preparatory School, Winter Park, Florida. Quincey graduated from Trinity Prep in 1996, where she was both an excellent student and a member of the track and field team for five years. Quincey entered the University of South Florida where she earned both a bachelor’s degree in art and a bachelor’s degree in English in 2001.
Quincey began her teaching career in Fort Myers. After a year she moved back to the Tampa Bay area where she taught English and AP English at East Lake High School in Tarpon Springs.
After marrying Brian Upshaw in 2007, she chose to pursue her master’s degree in English and returned to the University of South Florida. Following the birth of their first child, daughter Ellery Joy, her degree was conferred. Returning to the classroom as a teacher in 2010 at Hillsborough High School as a long term substitute, Quincey then joined the permanent faculty at Alonso High School that fall.
Following the birth of her second daughter, Auden Willette, in April of 2011, she was offered an opportunity to return to teach at the University of South Florida. Quincey taught First Year Composition and served as a supervisor and mentor to adjunct instructors in the First Year Composition program.
In October of 2014, Quincey was diagnosed with cervical cancer and underwent an immediate aggressive surgery to remove the tumor and surrounding tissue. Despite an apparent initial success, the cancer returned several times over the years since her initial diagnosis. Quincey underwent two major surgeries, several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation, and participated in an experimental trial as she battled for her life. Quincey died at home on March 11, 2018, attended by her husband, Brian, her mother and father, Joyce and Ronald Vierling, and her younger brother, Rider.
Quincey is survived by husband Brian, daughters Ellery and Auden, and her parents, Joyce and Ronald, Tampa; by sister Ronda Haywood (Bryan), Austin, Texas; brother Jameson Vierling (Odil), Istanbul, Turkey; sister Sonni Vierling (Mike Bandstra), Des Moines, Iowa; brother Rider D. Vierling (Kristy Tancred), Newcastle, Australia; as well as aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Quincey was a lifelong Unitarian. A Celebration of Quincey’s life will be observed at the Unitarian-Universalist Church, Clearwater, Florida, on Saturday, March 17th, at 2 pm. Friends are invited to join her family in paying tribute to a remarkable wife and mother, daughter and sister, friend and teacher.
In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to Planned Parenthood. http://ppaction.org/
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