Virginia Parker Fay

Virginia was born March 7, 1928 in Brownwood, Texas, to the late Frank and Effie Choate Parker. She graduated from Alpine High School at the age of 16 and began her college studies at Sul Ross University, and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, with a degree in Latin American Studies. Her professional life began as the youngest person to ever hold a supervisory position with the State of Texas, as Supervisor of Latin American Projects for the Texas Good Neighbor Commission. She taught elementary school in South Carolina; wrote Spanish language educational manuals as Program Coordinator for Southwest Educational Labs of Austin; assisted Walt Rostow, professor of economics and former National Security Advisor to JFK and LBJ, at the University of Texas. She capped off her professional career as the assistant to the Curator of Latin American Art at the Huntington Art Gallery, also at the University of Texas at Austin, where she helped implement a large overseas art exhibit in Madrid, Spain – an opportunity of a lifetime - visiting the country she loved and studied so extensively! Upon retirement she began painting with thread and created a gallery full of famous masterpiece classics, her favorite of course, Henri Matisse and his many women! Several of her pieces won prizes in the Georgetown Quilt and Stitchery Show, including first place and people's choice. Most recently, with the help of her brother, she became a member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and the Daughters of the American Revolution – an “honor” in her own words.

She met Gerald Fay at a USO dance in San Marcos, Texas in 1952. When she missed the next dance, the funny, good looking Irishman from Boston showed up at her office the next week, and shall we say, the rest is history. They married in 1955 and laughed together for 61 years! The U.S. Air Force took them to Sumter, South Carloina, where Kenneth was born, Wiesbaden, West Germany, where Brian was born, and finally back to Austin where Patricia and Dana were born. On April Fool’s Day in 1976 the family moved to Georgetown, Texas.

Though she spent many years working outside the home, Virginia was the best mother a child could ever ask for. She expressed the importance of Faith and Spirituality in their daily lives; she taught them to Love, unconditionally, all of God's perfect expressions. For this they are eternally grateful, for it is this foundation of Love that has prepared their way in life.

She is preceded in death by both of her parents, brother Frank Jr., sister Geraldine Lusby, granddaughter Suzette Fay, husband Gerald and son Kenneth.

She is survived by sons, Brian (Terry Cockerham) of Kyle, Texas and Dana (Rebecca Jernigan) of Georgetown, Texas; daughter, Patricia Martin (Jon) of Bandera, Texas; granddaughters, Cheyenne Fay (Trevor and great grandson Tripp Alan Boatright) and Cherokee Fay, Florence, Texas; brother, Jimmie Parker and wife Carol of Marble Falls, Texas; and nieces,Sammie Gray and Xan Koonce of Georgetown, Texas.

She was a member of First Church of Christ Scientists in Austin, Texas, later attending the Christian Science Society of Georgetown, Sun City.

Her ashes will be interred with her late husband at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery on Friday, April 13, 2018 in Killeen, Texas. Family and friends are invited to attend an outdoor celebration of her life on Saturday April 14, 2018, from 1pm - 4pm at Williams Grove, 6970 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas (formerly Forever Gardens Nursery).

Please make any memorial contributions to your local animal shelter or veterans organization in her honor, or to your favorite charity.

“When from the lips of Truth, one mighty breath

Shall, like a whirlwind, scatter in its breeze

The whole dark pile of human mockeries;

Then shall the reign of Mind commence on earth,

And starting fresh, as from a second birth,

Man in the sunshine of the world's new spring

Shall walk transparent like some holy thing”.

Irish Poet, Thomas Moore (1779-1852)

Arrangements by Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home, 2900 Williams Drive, Georgetown, Texas 78628 (512)863-2564.