Vicki was born in Triplett, MO to Clifford W. and Anna Lee (Duffield) Kahler in August 1944.  She attended school at Keytesville High and graduated in 1962.

 

   In 1964, Vicki married James Spence.  They have 3 children, Robert Spence of Miami, Elizabeth Anna Smith of Bogard, and Melissa Reynolds of Brunswick.  Vicki and James have 15 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

 

   Vicki went to Beauty Academy in Moberly, MO and received her license in April of 1974.  Today she owns her oun Beauty Shop called Country Carousel located in Brunswick.  She has been a hairdresser for 38 years.  In 1992-93, Vicki went to Fayette Methodist College where she took business and business law classes.

 

   Vicki and James bought the old Moser Restaurant and opened 3 days before the Pecan Festival started it's first year in 1980.  Vicki and several other business owner got together at the Uptown cafe and at this meeting there was much discusion and they realized that pecans were a natural native product in the Brunswick area, and therefore the festival was named the Brunswick Pecan Festival.  Chet Blackington issued a challenge to Vicki to sell advertising for the first Event Book to raise funds for the festival and this is how they raised the first funds.  Vicki has been involved with the festival since it began in 1980.  She has chaired the food vendors and window decorating contest.

 

   Vicke has belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary for 29 years, been a Real Estate Agent for 26 years.  She was a 4-H leader and taught cake decorating for 9 years.  She has gone to the nursing home every Wednesdy afternoon to do hari for about 28 years.  And for 6 years, she has volunteered at the nursing home as a Red Hater once a month.

 

   In Vicki's spare time she takes people to the doctor on her days off, walks a sick neighbors dog and she donates free haircuts to school children through MO Valley.  Vicki says, "I enjoy helping people when they need help and working to make our community a better place for us to live in and for the future generations.

 

   "I am very proud that we have come a long way with the Pecan Festival and hope it continues on long after we are gone. Our town is growning and is now a destination."