On December 17, 2022, when the Lord called in a to-go dinner order and requested that the greatest waitress deliver it straight to Heaven – he called Vicky Kohler.
Victoria “Vicky” Kohler, 88, was born on April 28, 1934, to Bertha Hager in Logan County, West Virginia. Early in life, Vicky took a job as a carhop at a drive-in in West Virginia. This was the beginning of what would be a lifelong career for her, becoming the world’s best and happiest waitress. Through the years, she waitressed at various restaurants. For the last 34 years, she was a favorite face and everyone’s friend at The Mill Inn.
Vicky loved her family deeply, and she never met a stranger. She had a wonderful sense of humor, loved to laugh, and always, always had a smile on her face. As her Mill Inn Family has said, her heart was as warm as the food she served.
Those left behind who will miss her greatly and remember her always are her sons, Harold (Yupin) Kohler and Carl (Christine) Kohler; her daughter, Sharon (Jerry) Lewis; her granddaughters, Amanda (Kevin) Kohler, Katie (Jason) Boruch, and Youbin Kohler; her grandson, Seth (Riley) Kohler; her great grandchildren, Connor, Haydn, Brielle, Chad, Kamryn, Issac, Michelle, and Garrett; her brothers, Julius Maynard and Ransom Maynard; her sister, Louise Bentley; several nieces, nephews, cousins, and a whole community of customers.
Vicky was greeted with open arms upon her heavenly arrival by her husband, Harold “Hal” Kohler; her daughter, Panthiea Phillips; her grandsons, Jordan Lewis and Matthew Kohler; her mother, Bertha Hager; her two brothers, Kenneth Maynard and Everett Maynard; many friends, and all her faithful dogs she loved over the years.
A celebration of Vicky’s life will be held from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 21, 2023 at The Mill Inn, 415 St. Louis Ave., Excelsior Springs, MO.
The family requests no flowers or cards, but please bring all your stories of Vicky to her Celebration of Life to share with friends and family.
“Wherever a beautiful soul as been, there is a trail of beautiful memories.”
Arrangements in care of Bross & Spidle Funeral Home, Excelsior Springs.
Our Sincere Condolences
Andrew and I had the honor of meeting Vicki at Mill Inn where she was our waitress. She was such a fun and exuberate person and we were amazed at how she never seemed to stop! Always working, she was such a sweetheart and we are sending our prayers out to her family!
Andrew and Ashlynn Stott
So sorry for your loss, very sweet lady, neighboring friend.
Dean and Betty Barton
This message is for Carl who I worked with at Hallmark Liberty Distribution Center. I had met your mother several times at places in Lawson and at the Mill Inn in Excelsior Springs. The motorcycle group we ride with has visited the Mill Inn on Tues. several times for our ride to eat day. We were the ROMEOS (Retired Old Motorcyclist Eating Out). I would say we would have had her wait tables on us and found us to be quite the interesting group of old people who loved to ride motorcycles. We didn’t mind helping out by getting our silverware or refills of water if the waitress was busy taking orders and delivering meals. I’m sure we had her for a waitress at some time. So sorry to hear about her passing and sending prayers that the Lord will embrace you with his love and help you through this very sad time.
Bob & Wanda Koehn
Harold and Carl I am so sorry to hear about your mom. She was a wonderful and sweet lady. My condolences to the two of you.
Steve Daniels
Vicky was a very special lady, and a great waitress. May she rest in peace now, and May God bless and comfort the family.
Linda Silkwood
Vicky was a bright ray of sunshine everytime we had the opportunity for her to be our waitress. She was a beautiful lady. Oh how we loved to visit with her, she had a wit about her. She will so missed by so many. Vicky we shall meet again one day.
Sully and Doris Sullivan
My thoughts and prayers are with your family! I worked at the Mill Inn with Vicky for several years when I was younger. I started when I was just 16 and Miss Vicky didn’t treat me any different than anyone else. I moved from dishwasher to cook, where I would get to call out her name when her order was ready, and when it came time to waitress, Vicky taught me how. Those ladies, especially Vicky, helped me to become the person I am today. I am so sad that I will be in Colorado during the Celebration of Life! She will definitely be missed!
Amanda Romazon
I visited with Vicky on two occasions. Once at the Mill Inn and again while getting a pedicure. What a gem of a lady! So positive, such an inspiration. A fantastic sense of humor.
God Bless, Sue Anderson
Oh we are missing you, Vicky! You were a ray of sunshine and one of the reasons we frequently dined at The Mill Inn. We loved your humor and spunk! Your caring soul radiated from you. You loved our dog, Jake, and told us many stories of your pets thru the years. You always asked about us and about our life experiences and shared many of yours with us. We learned we both had a child who went to heaven much too soon. You had two families: your blood family who was the core of your life and your Mill Inn family of co-workers and customers.
You sure felt like a unique bonus aunt, full of warmth, strength, intelligence, witty and capable of taking care of yourself. I swear you had a hidden battery pack because you kept on moving like The Ever Ready Bunny. I have no doubt you’re in paradise now! You are missed dear lady!
Kenn & Janet Ashcraft