Dr. Virgil B. Lawlis

Virgil was the youngest child of George and Fannie Lawlis, born August 17, 1925 on a cotton farm in Sylvester, Texas, where he grew up with brothers, Frank and Ovid, and sister, Frances. Upon graduating high school at the ripe old age of fifteen, he left home to study animal husbandry at what was then known as McMurry College in Abilene. When World War II broke out, he dutifully and proudly joined the U.S. Navy. Being short on medics and realizing Virgil's great intelligence and attention to detail, the Navy sent him to study medicine at the University of Texas where he serendipitously met his beautiful wife, Marjorie, who was also studying to be a physician. They married straight out of college and together, they bore the trials, tribulations and triumphs that only medical school can provide.

They lost no time in starting their family and were the proud parents of six children, the births of whom span the time from their days in medical school to their days practicing medicine in Austin. Virgil moved his family there in the late fifties to begin what no one could have known would become such an icon in Austin's history. The Austin Diagnostic Clinic, begun all those years ago with just two hardworking physicians, soon grew to house the largest group of Internal Medicine practitioners in the state. He was meticulous in the care of his patients and kind to those with whom he worked. He set a standard for care that his partners, family and friends still comment on to this day. His retirement from his practice in 1990 was a loss for many.

Not one to tarry, Virgil immediately embarked on his second career, raising and breeding Registered Black Angus cattle on his ranch near Bastrop. No doubt using his medical training, he was able to breed some of the finest Black Angus in the country. He won awards for having the highest percentage of his herd registered, at one time owned the number one bull in the country and was a charter member of the Foundation Angus Alliance. He enjoyed more than twenty years working on the ranch and was fortunate to be able to live out his final days on the land he loved so much, surrounded by some of the very cattle he'd help bring into this world.

Virgil was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 63 years, Dr. Marjorie Lawlis, their son, Mark Lawlis and their daughter, Janet Ann Lawlis.

Virgil is survived by his children, Grover Klarfeld (Nate), Bryan Lawlis (Patty), Steve Lawlis (Kim), Diane Lawlis, several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family and friends.

Visitation will be held from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm at Marrs-Jones-Newby Funeral Home in Bastrop, Texas on Friday, January 16th.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 in the morning at Calvary Episcopal Church in Bastrop, Saturday, January 17th.

Coffee, tea and water will be available in the parish hall before the service. A reception in the parish hall will follow after the service concludes.

The family will gather privately to lay Virgil to rest next to his loving wife, Marjorie, at Forest Park Lawndale in Houston, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to the Henry Gardiner Scholarship Fund at Kansas State University or to Episcopal Relief and Development.