Virginia Lee Calvert Hughey

Services for Virginia Lee Calvert Hughey, 96, of Tyler are scheduled for 2:30 pm on Thursday, April 9, 2015 at Stewart Family Funeral Home in Tyler with Dr. David Dykes officiating. Burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Tyler under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Visitation will be on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 from 5:00 to 7:00 at Stewart Family Funeral Home. Virginia passed away Monday, April 6, 2015, at her home in Tyler. She was born on December 17, 1918, in Oil Hill, Kansas to the late Roy Fairchild Calvert and Catherine Bernice Duff Calvert. Her birthplace, Oil Hill, Kansas, was an oilfield campsite where her father sought work in the oil fields of Kansas. From there, the family fell onto hard times due to the economic depression. The family was split and she and her sister Helen went to live with grandparents, Oscar and Rose Duff in Topeka, Kansas. She and Helen attended school there for a year and later rejoined the family in Tyler. Her father was successful in starting his own oil field services company called Acme Oil which served the family for more than six decades. Virginia overcame a lot in her life. She was born during the worst flu epidemic the Country had ever seen and later contracted malaria and cancer. She was a strong-willed person who persevered in some of life’s hardest times. Virginia, also referred lovingly to as "Ginger", always maintained a sharp wit and wonderful sense of humor despite the circumstances. She attended public schools in Tyler and graduated from Tyler High School and Tyler Commercial College. While attending Tyler High School, she was on the tennis team. On June 8, 1941, she married the love of her life, Gaylord T. Hughey. With a now or never marriage proposal at the age of 17, Gaylord whisked Virginia off her feet, which led to a marriage of 63 years. They spent the early years of married life in Norfolk, Virginia where Gaylord served in the US Navy. After completing their armed service obligation they moved to Waco, where Gaylord attended Baylor Law School and Virginia worked at the Veterans Administration Hospital. Soon afterward they started raising their three children. She worked for many years alongside Gaylord in their family oil and gas business. Virginia was a devoted, loving, kind and generous mother to all of her children. She loved her family and enjoyed spending time with them more than anything else. She was a member of Green Acres Baptist Church where she loved her Joy class members, and the music and the inspirational messages of Pastor David Dykes. She was a devoted member of Deborah Bible Club for many years. Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, Gaylord and sisters, Judy Cotey, Helen Borgeld and Rosemary Sorenson. Virginia is survived by her sister, Catherine "Baby Kay" Fischer of Odessa as well as her three children and their spouses, Sandra Hallmark and husband Mike, Gaylord T. Hughey, Jr, and wife Rene, Brenda Arnold and husband Leroy; eight grandchildren, Lauren, Lacey, Ashley and Allison Hughey, Jennifer Arnold Farmer and husband Ryan, Catie Arnold, Holley Kidd and husband Lex Kidd and Will Hallmark and wife Danica; five great-grandchildren, Reid Crenshaw, Tristan Farmer, Levi Kidd, Tripp and Trinity Hallmark. Pallbearers will be Leroy Arnold, Reid Crenshaw, Will Hallmark, Ryan Farmer, Lex Kidd and Joe Moss. In lieu of flowers acknowledgements may be sent to the Green Acres Baptist Church Benevolence Fund, 1607 Troup Highway, Tyler, Texas 75701 or the charity of your choice. The family wishes to express an enormous gratitude to our mother’s caregivers, Argie Walker, Rochelle Scott, Stephanie Jones, Willie Hayter, Deschanique Johnson and RonNiesha Sueing. The family appreciates the prayers and support shown by so many.

Virginia Lee Calvert Hughey

December 17, 1918 - April 6, 2015