Joseph Gordon Vickers

Joseph Gordon Vickers, Sr., a lifelong resident of Palm Beach County died at his home in Boca Raton on December 6th. He was 78 years old. Born in West Palm Beach, he was the son of Elmer and Dorothy (Brown) Vickers. He is survived by his wife Johanna Sheehy-Vickers, his three children Joseph Vickers, Jr. of Titusville, Jan Vickers D’hooge of Yelm, WA, and Jack Vickers of West Palm Beach, one stepson, Joseph Dukes of Tallahassee, and a step-brother, Dennis Catanzaro of Ocklawaha, FL. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild as well as several in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was predeceased by his sister and brother, Joan Doyle Haun and John Vickers.

Joe was a graduate of Palm Beach High School, and attended Palm Beach Junior College. He worked for Florida Power and Light Company for 34 years in various capacities, beginning as a laborer and eventually through a succession of promotions, advanced to the position of system operator at the FPL headquarters in Miami. He lived for many years in Juno while he worked at FPL’s North Palm Beach plant. He moved to Boca Raton in 1983 when he was transferred to Miami. After he retired, he began another successful ten year career as an auto salesman for Pompano Honda, and later for Delray Acura.

A 32nd degree Mason, Joe was a member in good standing of the Palmwood Lodge in West Palm Beach for more than a half century. A long time car enthusiast, and an ASC certified mechanic, for years he enjoyed the hobby of installing Corvette engines into Z cars. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman.

A memorial service will be held at Babione Funeral Home, 1100 North Federal Highway in Boca Raton on Thursday, December 11th at eleven o’clock. In lieu of flowers, the family requests the donations be made to: American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org, American Lung Association, www.lung.org, or American Diabetes Society, www.diabetes.org.