Virginia Tansey

Virginia was born in Toledo, Ohio to Nona Florence and Clarence Elroy Zoll. As the oldest of four children, she helped with housework and child care. She graduated from a vocational high school in 1940. Her first job was with a hearing aid company.

In 1942 she married Cornelius Lawrence Hull. They moved to Pensacola, Florida where Neil was stationed during WWII. After the war they returned to Toledo and started a family, daughters, Carol Joy, Dianne Kay, and Christine Lynn. The family moved to Arvada, Colorado in 1960. Virginia worked for Jefferson County Schools as an elementary school secretary. After the death of Neil in 1964, she had to take part time jobs to make ends meet. After her youngest daughter graduated from high school, she moved to an apartment in Lakewood where she met Reed Tansey and they were married in 1971. She worked at the Federal Bureau of Mines until she retired in 1984, after which Reed and Virginia moved to Longmont and to enjoy retirement life. Reed passed away in 2002 and mom continued living in Longmont until she moved to Littleton in 2014 to be near her daughter.

Throughout her life Virginia had many hobbies and interests. She enjoyed ceramics, needlework, refinishing furniture, hiking and traveling. But her true passion was sewing. As an excellent seamstress she made clothes for herself, her daughters and grandchildren. After retirement she joined a quilting group and made many beautiful quilts for family and friends. She took a doll repair class and took pleasure in restoring dolls to their original appearance. She attended several classes on creative writing at Front Range Community College and was inspired to write stories and poems of her early life. During her years at the Bureau of Mines, she developed a love of geology which has been passed on to her children, grandson and her great granddaughter.

Virginia was involved in many volunteer activities. She took training to become a Spellbinder. This organization uses oral storytelling to encourage literacy. She often used visual aids when telling stories to groups of grade school children and seniors. For many years Virginia volunteered in the public schools CHAMPS program (Children Having A More Positive Self-Image). In this program she worked one-on-one with elementary school students. She was also a librarian at Longs Peak United Methodist Church.

Virginia loved dogs. Jip, Blitz, Boots, Candy, Lizzy, Gabby, and Benny were loyal companions over the years. Most recently, she looked forward to the days when Bruno visited at her residence.

Virginia left behind to cherish her memories brother Wayne (Pat), daughters Dianne (Kent), and Christine, grandson Dillon (Tammi), great granddaughter Colette Maxine and many lifelong friends.

Virginia's family would like to express a heartfelt thank you to the dedicated personnel at the Manor on Marston Lake.

Memorial contributions may be given to St. Jude's Children's Hospital in memory of her daughter, Carol Joy Hull. Mom always contributed to this charity.