He was a part of what Tom Brokaw denominated “The Greatest Generation,” that generation of Americans who came of age in the World War II era. To the business community, he was “Ernie,” but to the family, close friends, and members of the church he was “Bud.” Having been born near Huntingdon, TN on November 29, 1923, he finished the 9th grade at Puryear, TN and then “finished his education later in life in the school of hard knocks.” Having grown up in the dark days of the great depression, his family was one of the many who eked out a living through much hard toil from which he developed a work ethic that continued through his 88 years. On December 19, 1942, he married Nellie Louise Lawrence in Puryear, TN, to which union were born three sons: Buddy Lawrence, Jerry Thomas, and Danny Michael. Louise passed away March 16, 1999.

Just a little over a month after he wed Louise, Bud was inducted into the armed services and served in the 9th Air Force, 391st Bomb Group in World War II in the European theatre where they followed General Patton’s invasion, repairing and reclaiming or destroying planes and vehicles left behind. He returned from Europe on a Liberty ship, landing at Newport News, VA on Christmas Eve of 1945. Having risen to the rank of Sergeant, he received his discharge at Ft. Knox, KY on December 31, 1945.

After his military service, Bud settled in the Kansas City North area and worked in construction with a couple of major construction companies, serving as Superintendent on various projects such as the original North Kansas City Hospital. In 1959 he and a partner formed their own construction business which they operated successfully for several years. He later sold his portion of the business to his partner and began a career in real estate which also proved successful. In 1985, he sold his realty company to ReMax of Kansas City and retired from his secular business interests.

In 1951 Bud had been converted to Christ by A. G. Hobbs while Hobbs worked with the congregation that eventually became and is today the Vivion Road church. Bud was soon encouraged to begin preaching the gospel, which he did by filling appointments with churches in the area. By 1955 brethren began to use him to hold gospel meetings and, sometimes after working all day at his construction job, he would drive several miles to preach in a meeting he was holding and then return home late at night following the services. After his retirement from the business community, preaching and doing home Bible studies truly became his passion. In later years he had many health challenges, especially heart and circulatory problems, in the treatment of which he received sixteen stints in his arteries. Many times while in the hospital for some of these treatments, he’d try to rush his dismissal because he had a Bible class scheduled with someone or a preaching appointment somewhere in the area of Northwest Missouri and southern Iowa. When he turned 80, I remember him saying that he hoped he could have five more years to preach. And he did, continuing to fill appointments, many times when his health dictated that he shouldn’t. He was still preaching at every opportunity until only a few months before his death, which came peacefully in the evening of February 27, 2012 at North Care Hospice House situated in the original part of North Kansas City Hospital whose construction he superintended. Some time ago, as a matter for family record, being encouraged by his son, Jerry, Bud recalled some sixty-four churches with which he’d done regular appointments or held gospel meetings, though he was never a “located” preacher. Most were in the heart land of the US, Kansas to Kentucky and Indiana, Iowa to Arkansas and Tennessee, but at least one meeting was in Alaska. 

On December 13, 2001, Bud married Wilma Tillery in a private ceremony conducted by Colbert Turney at Bud’s Liberty, MO home. Bud and Wilma greatly valued and enjoyed their companionship, and their ten years together provided them much pleasure in fishing, cooking, gardening, and being involved in the work of the church. For the last few years, Wilma was his very capable chauffer to preaching appointments, sometimes driving as much as a couple hundred miles on a Sunday, preaching at one congregation on Sunday morning and a different one Sunday evening. Sunday afternoons were often spent visiting some “elderly” brother or sister along the way.

As the obituary in the Kansas City Star newspaper said, “Ernest loved life, loved to hunt and fish, and most of all to preach the gospel of Christ. He was known for being caring and generous. He gave freely of his time and resources to the church as well as other charitable causes.” Besides Wilma, he is survived by his three sons and daughters-in-law, nine grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren, a brother in Florida and a sister in Tennessee. An older brother in California died a few days after Bud.

Bud’s funeral service on March 3 was conducted by this writer in the Vivion Road church building with a near capacity crowd. Congregational singing of some of his favorite hymns was led by Wayne Moody. Very dear friends Larry Osborn and Colbert Turney shared personal memories and paid their tributes to Bud for his assistance and spiritual encouragement to them, especially in their own preaching. The oldest Vick son shared memories from the family and business community perspective. His body was laid to rest beside that of his first wife, Louise, in White Chapel cemetery in Gladstone, MO. After a brief scripture reading and prayer, there followed a military salute and presentation of the flag. The service was ended with a Scottish bagpipe playing “Amazing Grace,” fading out of hearing range as he marched away across the cemetery.