Vircille Owens

In her early years, Vircille chopped cotton, hoed long rows, and rode dusty school buses. After graduation from Iraan High School, she went into nurses training at the Shannon Hospital.

She married Ellis Owens on June 22, 1945, while he was still in the Navy during WWII. They spent their early days of marriage in San Francisco, California.

When the war ended, Ellis and Vircille went into ranching just outside the Big Bend National Park, where they owned the Santiago Peak Ranch. Here, Vircille made a home for her family. She turned an adobe house, of four original rooms, into a comfortable, although rough at the start, home.

No transportation to school was provided by Marathon schools, so Vircille fed the family and the hands breakfast, drove 60 miles roundtrip to the school in Marathon and back, cooked lunch, fed the men, and repeated the trip to Marathon to end the day.

Together, Ellis and Vircille fought eagles, mountain lions, bitterweed, and horehound. But on Sunday, having determined to put God first in their lives, they drove 90 miles into Sanderson to be part of the Sanderson Church of Christ. On weeknights Ellis led a family Bible reading and devotional. Attendance was not optional. In all, Ellis and Vircille were also part of the Churches of Christ in Sheffield, Iraan, and Southgate Church of Christ in San Angelo.

When Ellis’ aging parents needed help, he and Vircille sold the Santiago Ranch and bought the Circle Dot in Terrrel County, where they ranched until they retired. Dividing their time between the ranch and their newly acquired home in San Angelo, they became a part of the Southgate Church of Christ. There, Vircille was involved in World Bible School, eventually sending thousands of lessons to students in Africa.

Vircille was preceded in death by her husband, Ellis, after 68 years of marriage. She lost her son, Robert Ellis, 36, to cancer, while he was in med school in Houston. In 2023, Vircille lost her son-in-law, David Brown. She leaves behind a daughter, Judy Brown, son, Clint Ellis Owens and wife, Starr, and a daughter, Jo Ellis McCall and husband, Rick.

Vircille had 13 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Pecos River Encampment, BOX 184, Iraan, TX 79744.

A funeral service for Vircille will be held Wednesday, February 5, 2025 from 10:00 AM at Church of Christ, 604 Harte St, Iraan, TX 79744. Following the funeral service will be a graveside service at Sheffield Cemetery, Sheffield, TX 79781.