Virgie Virginia Callen, 74, of Midland, Texas passed away on Saturday, October 19, 2019 surrounded by her loving family. Virgie was born on May 26, 1945 in Roger Mills County, Oklahoma to Haskell Harrell and Polly Harrell Lehew. She was raised and attended school in Sweetwater, Oklahoma. During the summer break in August of 1961 she met the love of her life Dale Callen on the town square in Mangum, Oklahoma. The couple united in marriage on June 9, 1962 in Sweetwater, Oklahoma. They lived in Mangum until September of that year before moving to Amarillo, Texas to begin their new life together. While living in Amarillo she worked briefly at TG&Y and Levi Straus as they began to build their family. They had three children, a son, Dale Jr. “Shorty”, and two daughters, Deborah Denice “Dee Dee” and Vickie. She was a devoted wife, mother and homemaker and was very active in the school related activities of her children. The family later relocated to Midland, Texas in 1977 and after her children were grown, she worked for Midland Independent School District for several years before retiring.She was a member and attended Kelview Baptist Church for many years and for the past several years enjoyed worshiping with First Baptist Church through their televised broadcast. She was a woman of faith and believed in the Lord.Virgie was a very a gifted and talented artist and enjoyed doing arts & crafts, ceramics, and various woodworking crafts. She spent numerous hours meticulously restoring furniture and conquering various home improvement projects. There wasn’t a job that she couldn’t do. She strived for perfection and it’s apparent in all of the work that she has done. She also enjoyed working on projects and spending time at their lake houses in Brownwood, Texas which has served as the family gathering place for over 30 years. Sitting out on the patio with her family watching her hummingbirds and the deer come into feed gave her so much joy and happiness. She also loved and had a huge passion for her volunteer work with the Oklahoma Special Olympics and looked forward to going to Stillwater every year. Virgie had a contagious laugh like no other and brought so much joy to all who knew her.Virgie is survived by her husband of 57 years Dale; three children, Dale Jr. “Shorty”, Denice “Dee Dee” Venters, and Vickie Callen; six grandchildren, Amanda (Cameron) Giacobbe, Dustin Callen, Lindsey Venters, Logan (Nadalee) Venters, Brandon (Ashley) Callen, Blake Callen; and nine great-grandchildren. Three brothers, Buddy Harrell (Joyce), Marvin Harrell (Carolyn), and Billy Lehew (Christi) and sister Ruth Pyeatt; and many nieces and nephews.Virgie is preceded in death by her parents, a sister Betty Jo Harrell, and brothers Glenn Harrell and Fred Harrell.Please join us in celebration of Virgie’s life on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 at 2:00 PM at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home, 3800 N. Big Spring, Midland, TX, with interment following at Serenity Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Family and friends are also invited to a visitation from 5:00 to 7:00 pm on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you make a donation in her memory to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 42040, Oklahoma City, OK 73123 or MD Anderson, PO Box 4486, Houston, TX 77030.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.,
