Vida (Overturf) Haacke

Vida Haacke, 87, formerly of Carbondale, IL, peacefully passed Tuesday, March 23, 2021, at her home in Centralia.  She graduated from Carbondale High School in 1951. She worked as a seamstress for Singer Sewing in Carbondale, prior to bookkeeping and running The Hollywood Tavern in Herrin, but her true passion was dolls.  Vida, known throughout Southern Illinois as, “The Doll Lady” made doll clothes and beautifully crafted gift items. If you ever attended a craft fair across Southern Illinois, you may have purchased something from her wide array of gift boxes, aprons, placemats, cloth children’s books, doll clothes, and embroidered baby quilts.

Vida was born August 17, 1933, in Carbondale, IL to Ralph Overturf and Ruth Jenkins and her beloved grandparents Jacob & Essie (Batson) Jenkins.

Vida spent years of her life creating quality gifts by hand. She strived to live her life by the quote, “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can.” -Edward Everett H. Using the skills she spent her life developing, she sought to make a difference in her community the way she knew best. She crafted needlepoint magnets and lapel pins year round to fundraise for the Big “D” Team’s Relay for Life which benefits the American Cancer Society. Recently, Vida spent countless hours hand embroidering a breast cancer awareness quilt that will be auctioned at this year’s Relay for Life. While she passed prior to its completion, her granddaughter will be finishing the quilt which will be auctioned later this summer to benefit the Big “D” Team’s efforts. She created and donated dozens of adult bibs and walker caddies to the Murray Development Center, and also donated handmade games, aprons, and fabric children’s books to the Head Start Program at BCMW.

Vida is survived by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren: Michael Page & Wife Judy - Children: James Page, Michael T. Page ~ Mother: Terry Page; Leah Seyferth & Husband Doug - Children: Kevin Seyferth & Heather Houseman; Son-In-Law: Larry McKinney - Children: Bill Hollenbeck, Christy Snider, Larry McKinney, Brian McKinney; Barbara Kerley & Husband Richard - Children: Adam Kerley & Tracy Lurkins; Lisa Aycock & Husband: Lynn - Children: Heith Crowell, Aaron Crowell, Jason Crowell; Renae Bauer & Husband: Jeff - Children: Taylor Bauer, Belle Harris, Paige Bauer, Hosea Harris, Ashton Bauer. Great-Grandchildren: Natalie, Sierra, Blake, Trent, Alexis, Chloe, Kanscha, Wyatt, Maddie, Haley, Clayton, Kylee, Alyssa, Hunter, Rainer, Ty, Bryce, Preston, Aubrey, Caleb, Carter, Cole, Christopher, Cody, Trevor, Taylor, Kayleigh, Wyatt, Aiden, and Aurora. Great-Great Grandchildren: Evelynn, Emersyn, and Kahlil.

Vida was preceded in death by her beloved daughter, Reah McKinney; an infant son, David Lee Marmaduke; granddaughter, Nikki Seyferth;  brother Ralph Overturf, Jr.; Aunt Pauline Jenkins; and both parents.

Per the family’s request, there will be no visitation services. Graveside services will be held at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery in Makanda, IL, Saturday, April 3rd at 1:00PM.  In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Big D Relay for Life Team and will be received by Irvin-Macz Funeral Home in Centralia, IL.

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