Virginia Oressa (Southall) Lanier

Virginia Oressa Lanier, 87 passed away on June 2, 2019.

Virginia was born on October 12, 1931 in Dayton, Ohio to James and Ethel Southall.  She had one older brother, James.

At a young age her family moved to Bowling Green, Kentucky where she met and lived across the street from Lawrence Williams. Lawrence and Virginia married in 1953.   Lawrence was in the Navy and they moved many times ending up in Poway, California. They had three daughters, Donna, Karen and Kathleen. They divorced in 1967.

Virginia worked outside the home for many years at Miramar Naval Base in San Diego, California where she met and later married Wayne Lanier, who worked as a fireman for the Miramar Naval Base flight line.

She retired from her career when Wayne accepted a job at a Navy base in Winter Harbor, Maine.  She loved Maine and had many wonderful friends there. She worked as a Nanny for a short period of time for the summer vacationers. After Wayne suddenly passed away, she returned to California to be with her daughters and her best friend, Marilyn, eventually deciding to move to Nampa, Idaho in 2000, at the invitation of another longtime friend, Marcia. All three daughters and their families followed shortly thereafter.

Soon after moving to Nampa she became involved in the organization NARFE, National Active and Retired Federal Employees. At one point she was elected and served as president of the Nampa chapter of NARFE and thoroughly enjoyed organizing and helping with the various organization functions and conventions. She was still actively involved at the time of her passing.

She loved crafting and sewing and made many beautiful quilts that will be cherished forever by her family.

Virginia is survived by her three daughters, Donna (John) Stevens, Karen Campbell and Kathleen (Chuck) Davlin.  Her three grandsons, Micheal Saylor, Daniel Saylor and Ryan Williams. She is also survived by two nieces, a nephew, and sister-in-law living in Arizona. And many dear friends.

Virginia is preceded in death by her parents, James and Ethel Southall, her brother, James Southall, her first husband, Lawrence Williams and her second husband, Wayne Lanier.

Virginia was greatly loved by many and will be greatly missed.

Please join us in a celebration of her life on June 15, 2019 from 3-5 at her daughter, Kathleen’s home: 11333 W Cumberland River Dr., Nampa, ID 83686.

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