Virginia Brim
Age - 84
December 7, 2023
On January 1st 1939, the year started off with a bang in Red River County Arkansas when Virginia Lee Abney made her debut. Delivered by her grandmother, she was welcomed into this world by her parents, Rosalie and Preston Abney and sister Dorothy Jean. In the years, she became a big sister to James, Robert and Gary Lynn Abney.
Virginia, or Gen as she was nicknamed, spent her childhood climbing trees, often just to read. She and her siblings spent many days swimming in the nearby river.
The family made ends meet by picking cotton in east, north and sometimes the western areas of Texas.
In 1952, her family decided to take the leap and relocated to Andrews, Texas for oilfield work. It was there, Gen started high school at a full grade ahead of the other 13-year-olds, graduating early at 17. She was an intelligent young women, often seen with her nose in a book.
She developed a lifelong love of sports when she joined the volleyball and swim teams. This carried over into her adulthood. She loved watching her daughter, Susan, play volleyball and continued to watch the Lady Tigers play ball long after Susan had graduated. She also played in a co-ed league with former Lady Tigers Billie Hibbet, Kim Kuehler and Sabrina Robinson to name a few. She also coached her daughters in softball and also participated in a city league with Nancy.
Upon graduation, she and dot to Midland, sharing a house with two other girls. They all four were telephone operators for Southwestern Bell. This career choice led to a fateful meeting that changed all of their lives. The story goes that one of the operators while connecting an airman from Webb Air Force base in Big Springs, struck up a conversation about what was there to do in Midland. This led to an invite to bring your friends to meet my friends. It was at this meeting; Gen met the handsome airman Jerry Ray Brim. The attraction was instant for both. Three months later, on September 30, 1958, the two were married.
This lifelong union of 65 years welcomed four children, all born in Andrews, Jerry Ray Brim, Jr. , (Bonnie) Nancy Jean Brim (Jeffrey), David Preston Brim and last, but certainly not least, Susan Gail Brim(Goetz). The bonus to having her kids was the gifts that came with having daughter-in-law Bonnie Brim, sons-in-law Don Goetz, Jeffrey Imachi. The greatest gift of all grandchildren and great grandchildren! Jerry Ray Brim III, I. E. Trey, (Jennifer and their son, Alex), Kathleen Brim Senekal, Brad and their children Bailey and Likhona. Keegan and Katie Goetz, Kelsea Goetz and Kaleigh Goetz and Olivia Imachi.
Between raising children and attending classes at WTC, she worked in various jobs, Snyder Upholstry Drapery, Credit Bureau, and L&R Meter Service to name a few. She applied and got the position of P. E. teachers aide at Humble Smith School she absolutely loved every minute of her time teaching Special Ed students and chaperoning the Special Olympics track meets. Upon the closing of Humble Smith, Gen was transferred across the street to West Elementary starting as an office clerk and later teachers' aide in the computer lab. She enjoyed the spark in the eyes of her students upon learning something new.
She was an awesome cook and often would cook what Bonnie, Don and Jeff wanted. As a result, her kids used these three to get her amazing fried chicken, chicken fried steak and banana pudding. She also was an accomplished seamstress. She sewed most of her children's clothes and also her daughter's prom dresses and bridesmaid dresses for their weddings. She made beautiful drapes for her home and also for several people in Snyder. She learned to quilt from her mother, Rosalie. She would piece and sew the quilts by hand, producing beautiful works of art.
Our loving mother developed heart issues and subsequently dementia. It was very difficult to see this lively, active and intelligent woman deteriorate from these diseases. She may not remember their names but would alway light up when she saw the faces of her grandchildren. She passed away peacefully on December 4, 2023 at 6:15 in the a. m. Surrounded by her loving husband and her children and will be missed by them and everyone she helped shaped.
She was predeceased by her parents, her two brothers Gary Lynn and Charles Thelmer, her daughter-in-law, Bonnie Brim, and her father and mother-in-law, Claude and Ella Brim. Also her beloved pug, Baby, who brought her much joy.
The family is planning a wake/celebration for a later time. To honor this wonderful woman, in lieu of flowers, the family request donations to a volleyball scholarship that will be set up for a graduating senior Lady Tiger to be given at the hall of fame honor ceremony. You may also donate to second chance dog rescue from which she and Jerry received their current fur baby, Buddy, who watched over both of them.
We would like to thank interim hospice and comfort keepers, especially Jana Colum. Also, Bobbie Tuebner, who was her roommate and who watched out for her during for the brief time she was in Snyder Oaks Nursing Home.
Arrangements are under the care of Miller Family Funeral Home.Show more
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