Virgie Mae Coon Ballenger, formerly of Peryton, TX, passed away April 26, 2012 in Lake Havasau, AZ.
She was born June 20, 1925 to Ralph D. and Vera Haight Coon near Crawford, Oklahoma. She lost her mother at a very early age. Her grandparents and her aunt assisted in her rearing until her father married Mary McGlothlin Curry Coon in 1936. From that time, they lived on a farm near the Crawford and Durham communities. She was an excellent student and a star basketball player at Crawford High School. She graduated Crawford High School in May 1943.
She married Bart “Doc” Montgomery Ballenger July 11, 1944 in Wheeler, Texas. She and Doc lived in Cheyenne, OK until May 1957 when they moved to Perryton, Texas. Both were very involved in the communities where they lived and had many friends. She was a member of the Church of Christ and a lifetime member of Beta Sigma Phi. Much of their time was spent working with the Wheaheart Shrine Club in Perryton, Khiva Shrine in Amarillo and the Shriner’s Crippled Childrens’ Hospital in Houston. Virgie was a well-known seamstress around the Perryton area. She also collected dolls and was an a avid Los Angeles Lakers basketball fan. She & Doc loved to dance to country & western music. In May 1997, they moved to Temecula, CA to be near their children. Doc passed away in December 1997.
She was preceded in death by her son, Norman Joe, her husband, mother, father, stepmother and a brother, Glen Curry.
She is survived by daughter, Donna and husband Larry Lile of Murrieta, CA; daughter, Katie and husband Larry Joe Lackey of Lake Havasu City, AZ, grandchildren, Barry Lile, Bradley Lile, Austin Lackey, Cale Lackey, Tiffany Ballenger and Jodi Lackey Matthews. She also had five great-grandchildrewn: Davin Lile, Skylynn and Hailee Mae Lackey, Madison and Lily Kate Matthews and two brothers, Norman Curry and Jack Coon.
Cheyenne Star, Cheyenne, OK 10MAY2012