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Ginny Magee

Virginia Lu “Ginny” Varner Magee, 92, of Monticello, passed away March 16, 2023, at her residence. Mrs. Magee was born June 7, 1930, in Wichita, Kan., and was the only child of Luther and Garnett Varner.
A memorial service was held March 18 at Monticello United Methodist Church. Revs. Dr. Tim Duchesne and Bob Lane officiated, with Wilson Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.
She lived her early years in Wichita, and then the family moved to Michigan where her father was in oil field construction. In her early teens, they moved to Odessa, Texas, where she completed high school, attended post-high school business college, and earned a degree in bookkeeping, working locally until her marriage.
Virginia and George met in their early 20s on an airplane. They continued contact and were married on Oct. 3, 1953, moving several times before settling in Houston in 1960. They relocated to Monticello in 1974 to assume ownership of Magee Tractor Company after a family member’s death.
As an only child, Virginia’s first friends were her dogs. She was a life-long animal lover and was active in forming and promoting the Lawrence County Animal Shelter and associated thrift store.
She and George were also very active in church life and Monticello’s civic life, which included square dancing and refurbishment and promotion of the old high school into the Lawrence County Civic Center.
Virginia was mother to three daughters, Mary, Martha, and Margery. She loved to travel and learn, and had extensive knowledge of the Magee family history. As a mother, she respected her daughter’s individuality and was always patient, supportive, and encouraging.
Virginia was a true and loving partner to her husband, a dedicated homemaker, insistent about keeping Sundays as church and family days, and sewing matching dresses for her three girls for special occasions.
She was the grandmother of nine and the great-grandmother of 13. She is dear to our hearts and will be greatly missed.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George; and one great-grandson, Trevor.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Lawrence County Animal Rescue League, the Lawrence County Civic Center, or the Palmer Home for Children.