Virginia Mary Emerson

Virginia Mary Emerson of Austin, age 92, passed away on November 21, 2007, the day before Thanksgiving. Her husband, the late G.C. "Ox" Emerson, died on Thanksgiving Day, 1998. Virginia was born on April 2, 1915, in Highland Park, Michigan, then a suburb of Detroit. Her parents were Harry Opie, of Cornwall, England, and Evelyn Walker Opie of Ontario, Canada. Virginia grew up in Detroit and married a star of the city's brand new football team, the Detroit Lions. World War II took the Emersons to Iowa City, Iowa; Hamilton, New York; St. Simon's Island, Georgia; Chapel Hill, North Carolina; and Corpus Christi, Texas. Virginia spent the rest of her life in Texas. After a few years in Corpus Christi and Alice, the Emerson family settled in Austin in 1951. Virginia worked as a medical secretary in the laboratory of Seton Hospital for 37 years, finally retiring at age 80. Virginia was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Gover Conner "Ox" Emerson, a longtime Austin football coach and history teacher. She is survived by son John Conner Emerson of Rowlett, daughter Linda Bushell and husband Gary of Corpus Christi, and daughter Sally Craig of Austin and the Craig family: the Rev. Hugh Craig, Marianna Craig, and Conner Craig, along with wife Robin and son Ian. The family wishes to acknowledge the outstanding care of Life Made Easy, Loyalton of Austin, Gracy Woods I Nursing Center, and Lighthouse Hospice of Georgetown. We are so grateful to these wonderful people for their expertise, their cheerful spirits, and their endless patience. However their work is rewarded, it is not enough. To the many friends of the Emerson family who inquired about our parents’ well-being during our dad’s long illness, Virginia appreciated your concern and support. The family will receive visitors from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 25, at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home. Virginia’s memorial service will be at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, November 26, in the Weed-Corley-Fish Chapel. A private interment will precede the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Austin, 3429 Executive Center Drive, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78731. Obituary and guestbook online at wcfish.com