Virginia Lee Sanders

Services for Virginia Lee (Price) Sanders, 90, of Plains, Texas, will be at 10:00 am Thursday, March 9, 2023, at the Plains Methodist Church with Pastor Rick Doyle officiating. Burial will follow in the Yoakum County Plains Cemetery.

 

Visitation will be from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at Brownfield Funeral Home.

 

Virginia was born March 1, 1933, in Brownfield, Texas, to H.B. "Bayne" and Pearl (Bryant) Price and died in the early morning of March 6, 2023, in Lubbock, Texas. At age two, Virginia moved to land west of Plains with her parents, 12-year-old sister, Othell, a few head of cattle, a horse, and a pick-up. The family lived in an old house, originally owned by the Blankenship family, until 1945, when they moved to the one-room, dirt-floored garage for 13 months while their new home was constructed on the property. This coincided with purchasing a wind charger that replaced Kerosene lamps; a convertor had to be used for electrical appliances. Despite the hardscrabble start, with time and the help of several neighboring ranchers, the family built a successful ranching operation named "The 76 Ranch." 

 

Virginia attended primary and secondary school at Plains. She quickly became a school class favorite, known for her likable personality and exceptional musical talent. She played the clarinet as a member of the school band; however, most notable was her outstanding piano-playing talent, which included a rare ability to play by ear – she could play the chords and melodies of almost any song after hearing it just once. Following graduation from high school, Virginia headed to Lubbock and Texas Tech. She was an accomplished pianist who often accompanied professional singers performing at college functions and other city events. 

 

Along the way, thanks to a fortuitous introduction by Margaret (Sanders) Bryant, her future sister-in-law, she met the love of her life, L. J. Sanders, Jr.  They were married in a ceremony held at Virginia's family ranch August 31, 1951. Together, they began a lifelong romance and a successful marriage that took them to the oil towns of Texas: Andrews, Odessa, Midland, Ft. Worth, and Houston. Virginia gave birth to David Bayne Sanders in April 1955 and four years later welcomed her second son, Dan J Sanders, in March 1959. She had boundless energy and lived her life with three priorities: Faith, Family (which included her beloved pets), and Friends. In addition to playing the piano at church, Virginia became a highly regarded country cook. Some of her specialties included slow-cooked brisket and roast with homemade gravy, buttery mashed potatoes, bacon-seasoned pinto beans, yeast hot rolls, and made-from-scratch desserts like chocolate meringue pie, chocolate fudge, chocolate cake, and chocolate fried pies. UPS and FedEx delivery drivers received a delectable dessert after dropping off a package on more than one occasion. She proved to be a tireless worker in church-sponsored activities throughout her entire life. She volunteered as a hospital "Candy Striper" throughout the 1960s in Ft. Worth and served as "Team Mom" for her sons' many sports teams.

 

Additionally, she proved to be a knowledgeable amateur antique collector. She pursued her passion by working for one of the leading antique dealers in Ft. Worth. Over time, her antique collection made any visit to her home like visiting a hands-on museum – she was particularly drawn to Pennsylvania Dutch Country items, artwork featuring iconic content found in west Texas, and collectible dolls.

 

In 1985, L. J. and Virginia designed and built their retirement home just one mile from where they had been married nearly 35 years earlier. Virginia brought joy to her family and friends in the years that followed with generous hospitality and a great sense of humor. She helped preserve the history of Tsa Mo Ga Home Demonstration Club. She actively assisted in the preservation of the Plains Museum. Additionally, Virginia provided governance oversight of the local cemetery, the Plains Methodist Church, and the Yoakum County Watermelon Round-Up.  Later, Virginia enjoyed watching aspiring musicians featured on The Voice, American Idol, and America's Got Talent. And she always tuned in to KCBD-TV to see her granddaughter, investigative broadcast journalist Shaley Sanders.

 

Two sons and daughters-in-law survive Virginia, David (Cherie) Sanders of Plains and Dan (Shanna) Sanders of Chandler, Arizona; two grandchildren, Shaley (fiancé John Kidwell) Sanders of Lubbock, and Travis (Ariel) Sanders of Gilbert, Arizona; and one great-grandchild, Ty J Sanders of Gilbert, Arizona. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and sister.