Virginia Cox Gaby

Ollie 'Virginia' Cox Gaby, 89, died Monday, Dec. 4, 2006, at Johnson City Medical Center after a brief illness. She was a resident of Appalachian Christian Village in Johnson City, but had made her home at 1408 College Heights Drive for nearly forty years. A native of Lebanon, Va., she was a daughter of James Wilson Cox and Maggie Thompson Cox. Mrs. Gaby attended Lebanon High School and earned her RN certification in 1940 from Knoxville General Hospital School of Nursing in Knoxville where she met her husband and married in 1940. She subsequently worked as a nurse at Holston Valley Hospital in Kingsport and assisting a general practitioner in Nashville from 1940-41. From 1942-46, Mrs. Gaby was an admission nurse at Missouri Pacific Railroad Hospital in St. Louis while her husband was pursuing his doctorate at St. Louis University. After the birth of her first of three children, Mrs. Gaby devoted herself to being a full-time mother and 'family supervisor'. A member of First United Methodist Church in Johnson City, she was also a talented crocheter, winning blue ribbons at the Appalachian Fair in Gray. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Gaby was preceded in death by her husband of sixty-five years, William L. Gaby in February 2006; three sisters, Beulah Kauffman, Roberta Pylant and Mildred Newell Rowland; and a brother, Bill Cox. Survivors include three daughters, Nancy Sue Gaby-Lefkowitz, Winston-Salem, NC, Virginia Lee 'Jenny' Gaby-Holt, Lilburn, Ga, and Frances Ann 'Fran' Gaby, Johnson City; three grandchildren, Lori Beth Holt Horton, Lawrenceville, Ga., Matthew Holt, Monroe, Ga., and Ryan Holt, also of Lawrenceville, Ga; three great-grandchildren Analeigh, Bethany, and Catherine Horton, all of Lawrenceville, Ga; two sisters, Jimmie Lamberth, Kingsport and Ida Alderson, Lebanon, Va; three brothers, Bob Cox, Rosedale, Va., Gene Cox, Ruther Glen, Va., and Ed Cox, Powhatan, Va; numerous nieces and nephews. A funeral service for Ollie 'Virginia' Cox Gaby will be held on Friday, December 8, 2006 at 2:00 PM from the Morris Baker North Chapel. Rev. Garland Thayer and Rev. Tom Oiler will officiate. A graveside committal service will follow at Monte Vista Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be selected from among family and friends. The family will receive friends at the funeral home for one hour prior to the funeral. Morris-Baker Funeral Home is serving the Gaby family. Morris Baker Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2001 Oakland Ave., Johnson City, TN 37601.