Virginia McNees
Dec. 23, 1920 - Oct. 29, 2018
97, El Centro
Lillie retired from El Centro Regional after twenty-five years of service.
She remained retired for a short period time until her cohorts and doctors talked her back and into their office at the Valley Endoscopy; she gave them a good fourteen years of service.
Lillie was an excellent cook. Some of her favorite recipes were cornbread stuffing, potatoes salad, caramel and lemon cakes among many other family favorites. She loved shopping from the television network channels, decorating and kept an immaculate home. Her favorite foods were tacos and enchiladas made by her niece, Tonie Johnson.
Lillie loved her family and enjoyed helping other people. Every month, she not only donated to several charitable causes, but she also dedicated serving anyone in need.. never hesitating to give a helping hand. She had a heart of gold.
She was proceeded in death by her parents, Mose, Sr. and Altoner Bell; husband Sam Gentry; sisters, Elmarie Johnson, Myrtle Franklin, Rose Marie Thompson; brothers, Mose Bell, Jr. Norman Bell Sr.; son, Samuel Gentry (Butch) and grandson, Daniel Johnson.
She is survived by her sons, George (Narmaya) Bell Jr., of Imperial, CA and Lionel (Zana) Johnson of Portland, OR; sisters, Gertrude Bradshaw of New York, NY, Ruby Buie of Imperial, CA and Hugerstine (William, Sr.) Fortune of Brawley, CA. brother, Charles Bell of El Centro, CA; grandchildren, Aisha (Lamontico) Melvin, NC, George W. Bell III, NC, Frankie (Kelley) Woodard, AZ, Greco (Brenda) Tucker, CA, Hosea Johnson, OR and Zanette Johnson, CA; numerous great-grandchildren.
Lillie was deeply loved by her family and will be missed more than words can express. She has friends from near and far that found her kindness and love truly genuine, her infectious smile will be sorely missed.
Veiwing will be held on Friday, December 7, 2018 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Hems Brother Mortuary in El Centro, CA. Service will be held on Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 9 a.m. located at First Baptist Church, 724 W. Orange Ave. El Centro CA. Interment will be held on Saturday, December 8, 2018 at Evergreen Cemetery 201 E. Gillet Road, El Centro, CA 92243.
Virginia Louise Carlson McNees, 97, of El Centro, passed away on Monday, October 29, 2018.
She was born in Burdick, Kansas, on December 23, 1920, along with her twin brother Virgil, to Carl and Lillie Anderson Carlson. Her mother introduced the twins to the older children as “very special Christmas presents.”
Virginia attended school in Burdick, graduating from Diamond Valley High School in 1939 as a part of a huge class of five (and 3 of them were Carlson). Shortly after graduating, she came to El Centro to stay with her sister and brother- in- law, Ina and Harlan Frymire. On a blind date set up by Ina and Harlan, Virginia met N.E. (Bud) McNees and a spark was lit on a fire that lasted for 66 years. They married in Kansas on June 25, 1943. Virginia was truly a war bride, following Bud to Army training in New York before he shipped out to Europe. She went back to their families in Kansas, Nebraska and California until he came home. After WW II ended, they eventually returned to El Centro where Virginia worked for the phone company. When their three children came along, Virginia stayed home to care for them and eventually became a Blue Bird leader (of the Violets) for Camp Fire Girls and then, along with Bud, became an active Den Mother and participant in Cub Scouts. She eventually went back to work at the El Centro Public Library from which she retired after 25 years.
Virginia and Bud were very active in the First Presbyterian Church and made so many good, lifelong friends there. When it closed, many joined the First United Methodist Church where the friendships have continued. Virginia was also a long time member of P.E.O. Chapter GW which she joined in 1985 and participated in up until her last days.
Virginia was preceded in death by her husband, Bud; by her parents and siblings, Lynne (and Roger Kirkwood), Ina (and Harlan Frymire), Leonard (and Evelyn) Carlson, and Virgil Carlson; and by son-in-law Dick Slobig.
She is survived by her daughter, Anita Slobig; sons, Bill McNees (Diane Cason) and Richard McNees, all of El Centro; grandsons, Marty (Alyssa) McNees, Andy (Robin) McNees and Sam McNees; step- grand daughter, Linda Kuhn; several great-grandchildren who all called her GG; nieces and nephews all over the country; and by Buster and Annie, her grand- dogs.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 8, 2018 at 11 a.m. at First United Methodist Church (8th and Olive) in El Centro. Donations may be made in Mom’s memory to Pioneers Museum or to P.E.O. Chapter GW Scholarship Fund.