Virginia McCain Skeen

Virginia McCain Skeen passed away peacefully at home from this earth to heaven into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, April 5, 2015. She was a true blessing to anyone who knew her in the past 91 years. A private family graveside service was held on Tuesday, April 7, 2015 under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home with Dr. Paul Powell officiating. She was born in Chandler, Texas on July 25, 1923. Her family moved to Tyler when she was a baby, and she has lived in Tyler for her entire life. Virginia attended Gary Elementary, Hogg Junior High, and Tyler High School. In 1941, she was in the Texas Rose Festival and represented the Garden Club Bluebonnet. In May 1942, she graduated from Tyler Junior College with an Associate in Arts degree, and she attended Tyler Commercial Business School until May 1943. She started working as a secretary at Camp Fannin in the summer of 1943 during WWII. Virginia married Jack Skeen, Sr. on August 3, 1944 at First Baptist Church in Tyler following Jack’s completion of duty in the Army Air Corps. She was a homemaker for the first ten years of their marriage. In 1954, she took the insurance exam and was the secretary in her husband’s business for twenty-five years. Virginia retired in 1979; however, she always remained active and involved in the Skeen Insurance Agency. Jack and Virginia were married for fifty-one years before he passed away in 1995. Virginia was a lifetime member of First Baptist Church. She started in the Cradle Roll at a very early age, attended Sunday school in the Wright Building, and she remained a very dedicated member of the church for many years. Virginia was Sustainer Emeritus member of The Junior League of Tyler and a longtime member of the Tyler Garden Club. She was very active throughout her life in numerous civic and community events and activities. Virginia was preceded in death by her husband Jack Skeen, Sr., parents Mae and A.E. McCain, sister Arlene McCain Johnson, brother Douglas McCain, grandson Matthew Skeen, and niece Frances Anne McCain. She is survived by son Judge Jack Skeen, Jr. and wife Barbara; daughter, Ginger Skeen Vance: grandsons, Richard Vance, Jr. and wife Nykole, Jack Skeen, III, and Carter McCain Skeen: great-grandson, Nathan Vance; brother, James McCain and wife MaryAnne; nieces, Ann Lilly and husband Roy, Nancy Clark, Jenny Clark and husband Greg Ortiz; nephews, Jim McCain and wife Chaley, Bert McCain, Bill McCain, A.D. Clark, III and wife Judge Carole Clark and Bill Clark and wife Andy. Honorary pallbearers were Richard Vance, Jr., Jack Skeen, III, Carter McCain Skeen, Roy Lilly, and Cliff Moore. The family wishes to express its sincere appreciation to Dr. Douglas Coltman, loving caregiver Angelica Martin, and The Hospice of East Texas HomeCare team. The family requests memorials if desired to be made to First Baptist Church, 301 W. Ferguson, Tyler, Texas 75702, The Hospice of East Texas Foundation, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, Texas 75701, or charity of your choice.

Virginia McCain Skeen

July 25, 1923 - April 5, 2015