Dewey County Obituary
Sunnyside Cemetery

aka Vici

LILLIE JOAN BAKER SALISBURY

24 Jan 1932 - 22 Nov 2011

© Woodward News
November 29, 2011
Reprinted with permission
Submitted by: Ann Weber

Woodward, Okla. — Lillie Joan (Baker) Salisbury was born January 24, 1932 to Virgil M. and Clara M. (Castor) Baker. She was born at her Aunt Jessie Weindolph’s house in Vici, Oklahoma. Joan had two brothers to grow up with, Alvin L. “Alvie” and W.C. “Connie. The family made their home on the farm, southeast of Vici, where her grandparents, J.D. “Dodd” and Lillie Louise (Smith) Castor had homesteaded. They lived in the house her grandparents had built. Brother Connie still lives in the home today and it has been recognized as a “Centennial Farm” by the State of Oklahoma. Joan passed from this life on November 22, 2011 at the age of 79.

She attended her first three years of school in a one-room school house at Fairview, just about a mile from her home. The school was eventually consolidated into the Vici School District and Joan finished her education at Vici.

On February 13, 1949 Joan was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart, Melvin “Bud” W. Salisbury. Brother Rollie Cunningham performed the ceremony. Bud was third youngest of 16 children and Joan loved being a part of his large family. The family enjoyed spending lots of time together playing cards, picnicking, having wienie roasts and just visiting. Bud and Joan’s home was always open and was often the meeting place for them all.

Bud and Joan were both baptized on January 14, 1951 by Brother Rollie into the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn (Hebrews 12:23). They strove to live by this faith for the remainder of their life, enjoying the love, care and fellowship of the Lord and the brethren.

Bud and Joan soon began a family of their own and were blessed with the birth of their three children, Linda Joan, Marilyn Marie, and Melvin W., Jr. After several different jobs, and at the insistence of her brother Alvie, they opened Bud’s Grocery in Vici. They soon outgrew the small original building and moved into the location that is now the Vici Grocery Store. They always considered their customers their friends. They took a genuine heartfelt interest in “their” town and the school as well as the surrounding areas and could be counted on to help support them all.

Bud passed away on April 26, 1987 and Joan and son, Junior, continued to operate the store until it was sold to Lyndell and Vickie Morris. The Salisbury’s had owned and operated the store for 38 years when she retired.

Joan’s children and grandchildren were the pride and joy of her life. She often remarked how blessed she was to have all three of her kids living within three miles of her home. She lovingly welcomed the spouses of her children and grandchildren into the family and thought of them as her own. Joan enjoyed young people and always opened her home to the friends and classmates of her children and grandchildren. In addition to her family, Joan loved being outdoors whether it was spending time at her country place on “Grandma’s Creek”, camping at the lake, her ranch, or just sitting in her swing in her backyard.

Later in life, Joan had a special friend in Everett Hutchens. They enjoyed many good times together and often traveled with her family or his. She loved to see new sights and meet new people in different parts of the U.S. as well as many different countries. When Everett was diagnosed with leukemia, Joan helped his family care for him. She became very close with them all and often called them her “second family”. They never missed an opportunity to help her or do something kind for her. Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Bud Salisbury, parents, Virgil and Clara Baker, grandson, Ty Wayne Salisbury, brother, Alvie Baker and wife, Velma Baker Lund, sister-in-law, Betty Baker, nieces, Anita Joan Baker and Kari Louise Baker.

Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Linda Parry and husband Lonnie, Marilyn Hale and husband Jerry, Junior Salisbury and wife Vickie all of Vici, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Billy and Cynthia Parry of Edmond, Oklahoma; Michele Parry of Mustang, Oklahoma; Melisa and Jason Hildebrand of Mustang, Oklahoma; Kimberly and Bart Watkins of Vici, Oklahoma; Shari and Joey Jennings of Vici, Oklahoma; Amy and Bobby Keepers of Vici, Oklahoma; Taylor Salisbury of Vici, Oklahoma and Guy Salisbury of Vici, Oklahoma; great-grandchildren, Ethan Parry, Britnee Lesser, Jessica Longley, Hadley Hildebrand, Jack Hildebrand, Raegan Watkins, Kade Watkins, Nate Jennings, Zoey Jennings, Blaine Keepers and Bridgette Keepers; beloved brother Connie Baker, and special niece, Janet Marie Robinson, other family, many friends and beloved brethren.

Funeral Services were held Friday, November 25, at the Church of the Firstborn, Vici, Oklahoma with burial following at Sunnyside Cemetery. Services arranged by Shaw Funeral Home, Vici, Oklahoma. Condolences may be made to the family and video tribute viewed at shawfuneralhome.net.