Traci Baker
The recent passing of one of the HOA’s long-time staff members, Vickie Hamilton, has left a hole in the hearts of staff members, friends, neighbors and all who knew her. She and her husband Don moved to PebbleCreek in 2007 and they both engaged in the community right away. Vickie worked for the HOA as Communications Director, and Don remains a part of the Golf staff. In addition to being an HOA employee, Vickie was also a dedicated volunteer both in and out of PebbleCreek. She volunteered with many groups within PebbleCreek including LifeLong Learning, a group that was very dear to her, and Kare Bears, who honored her with The Founders Service Award in 2012. She also volunteered outside of PebbleCreek, serving on the Planning and Zoning Commission for the City of Goodyear and Vickie was one of the founding members of the Friends of the Goodyear Library.
The HOA is so grateful for all that Vickie has done for this community and she will be greatly missed. “When I first came on staff here in 2014, Vickie took me under her wing and really helped me learn the lay of the land, said Traci Baker, Director of Community Activities and Communications. “We were almost instantly friends she quickly became more than just a colleague, she was a dear friend. We shared as much laughter as we did talk of AP Style and writing technique. I loved hearing her stories about her college days as a ‘hippie’ strumming her guitar in coffee houses in Baltimore and her tales of being the communications dispatch for the Baltimore PD. Her love of writing, her infectious laugh and that huge smile are just a few things I will carry with me always. She and Don were so wonderful together, my heart is with Don and all of Vickie’s family and those who loved her. She is truly missed.”
In 2014 the HOA Board of Directors and General Manager recognized Vickie with the Volunteer of the Year Award. In addition to her service as a staff member, Vickie volunteered her time for the HOA in many ways. Bill Barnard, General Manager shared, “Vickie had a passion for PebbleCreek and was extremely involved with our community. She was instrumental in starting the communication channels here, and helped us get to where we are now. She always attended HOA functions and never missed a meeting, wanting to make sure the community was aware of what was going on at all times. She was always doing something worth writing about and writing something worth reading. We are saddened by this loss, but she will remain in our hearts.”
She was truly a woman who gave her all to everything she did and her work in and around her community reflected that. Vickie passed away on July 21, 2018 at home after a 3-year battle with Glioblastoma brain cancer.