Virginia Sue Lay was born on February 4, 1939, in Dalhart, Texas, the youngest child of George Overby Wilkinson and Florence Iris (Grimm) Wilkinson. She passed peacefully from this life on Sunday, May 22, 2022, at her daughter’s home in Oologah, Oklahoma, at the age of 83 years. Virginia was married on October 5, 1954, in Lubbock, Texas, to Bill J. Lay. She devoted her life to raising her children and teaching them about God. She could often be heard saying “I couldn’t make it without God” and “My children are so precious.” During her early parenting she enjoyed past times such as sewing and volunteering as a Den Mother with Cub Scouts. She later became an avid garage sale enthusiast, loved collecting treasures and old books, and enjoyed working in her garden barefoot. Her greatest joy was welcoming and adoring each new grandbaby and great grandbaby. Because of the love and generosity of her children, Virginia was able to experience her lifelong dream of visiting the Holy Land in 2010. Virginia was saved during her childhood at the First Baptist Church in Dalhart. She had been a longtime faithful member of Rabb’s Creek Baptist Church in Oologah and First Baptist Church in Boise City, Oklahoma.
Those she leaves behind, who hold many cherished memories include:
10 Children;
Phillip Lay
Perry Lay and wife Melissa
Richard Lay
Linda Carlton
Daughter-in-love Rachelle Lay
Sharon Martin and husband Terry
Reuben Lay and wife Rhonda
Nancy Thomas
Penny Barrett and husband Alex
Deena Schwerdtfeger and husband Eric
Daniel Lay and wife Xiaoya Liu
30 Grandchildren and 16 Great Grandchildren
Sister;
Rosalee Pruitt
She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Florence, four brothers, Junior, Daniel, Hugh, and Harold, two sisters, Harlene and Dorothy, husband, Bill, and three children, Kenneth, Kyla, and Kelly.
Visitation will be 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 26, 2022, at Mowery Funeral Service in Owasso. A funeral service will be held 10:00 a.m. Friday, May 27, 2022, at the Mowery Funeral Service Chapel. Interment will follow at Ridgelawn Cemetery in Collinsville, Oklahoma. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Virginia’s memory to the Baptist Children’s Home, 12700 E. 76th St. N., Owasso, OK 74055.
