- Date Of Birth: February 14, 1934
- Date Of Death: April 13, 2013
- State: Arkansas
Violet Virginia McVay Sexton was the third of six children born to Harvey Eugene and Mildred Wilmuth Jennings McVay. She died peacefully April 13, 2013 at her home in Austin, Arkansas, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. She was born at the peak of the Great Depression on February 14, 1934 in the township of Carden Bottoms, Yell County, Arkansas. She was raised in the meager surroundings of a hardworking Christian home which taught her the immense value of family and lifelong friendships.
She treasured those defining years of her life as a Dyess Eagle and helped her organize reunions at the Dyess Colony.
She was an independent soul who began working outside the home between her Junior and Senior years in high school. Her first job was at Timex in Little Rock in 1952. She moved to Memphis, TN in 1953, with her first job there being as a waitress at the grill at the Trailways Bus Station. She eventually went to work at the Sears and Roebuck store in the mail order department and was working there when she met Ray Sexton, Sr. in 1953.
They met as a result of a car accident that Ray responded to as an attendant for Jack
Ruby Ambulance Company. She and Ray married May 11, 1954 in Sardis, MS. They had three children during their 28 year marriage. At one point in their marriage they shared ownership of an extremely successful small family business that allowed Violet to utilize her many talents involving various types of crafting. They divorced in 1983. Violet never remarried.
Death is an invevitability and almost always tragic but the timing can make it even more so. Violet was preceded in death within the past 17 Months by her eldest sister Mattie Margaret Boyd, her eldest brother, Herbert Eugene McVay, younger brother Bobby Lloyd McVay. Also preceding her were her beloved parents and her youngest brother Alford Troy McVay.
She was heartbroken and these losses contributed to her failing health which took a sudden decline with the need for hospice. Her decision to die at home was a true gift that her family did not recognize as such until she gained the peace for which they had all prayed. The family wishes to thank Arkansas Hospice, especially Keri and her husband Brandon, who calmed them in their worst moments by sharing hymns and soft music.
Violet spoke of her younger brother Bobby Lloyd as her first son. Their age difference and his size allowed her to mother him as they grew. She felt a special connection to Bobby. His death seemed to be the final straw. Bobby was cremated after his death on January 1, 2013. His wish to have a portion of his ashes buried at the feet of his parents will be fulfilled during the same ceremony as Violet’s at the Butlerville Cemetery in Lonoke County, AR.
Violet is survived by one sibling, James Edward (Marilyn) McVay; a son, Ray (Libby) Sexton, Jr.,
two daughters Renee (Rob) Elmore and Dianne (Edward) Weed; four grandchildren, Nikki Belote, Steven Skillern, Sarah Skillern and Trevor Elmore; and one great-grandson Keaton Belote.
