Virginia Wayne Peircy DeVries OBITUARY

Virginia Wayne Peircy DeVries OBITUARY

Virginia Wayne Piercy DeVries known as “Ginny” to most. Lost her long courageous battle with cancer on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at the age of 79. Fulfilling her wish to die in her home, in her bed, with her husband “Kit” by her side. Ginny was born in Muskegon, Michigan on September 6, 1945, to John Piercy and Mary Morgan. During her childhood, Ginny lived for several years in Kentucky, with her mother and grandmother, where southern culture became a consistent interest throughout her life. After moving back to Michigan her experiences in school played a crucial role in shaping the social skills she would later use in adulthood. In High School she was awarded Citizen of the Year and voted to be the person who did the most for her school. In her senior year, Ginny, with her team, won the Grand National Cheerleading competition in 1962. In 1967, Ginny received her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Michigan, majoring in English with minors in History and Social Studies, along with a teaching credential. During her time at the University of Michigan, Ginny stood up for social justice and resigned from the sorority that was refusing to admit a female black student. She later attended Sonoma State University to complete her M.A. degree. She lived in Homer, Alaska for 17 years where she was actively involved in the artistic community, along with environmental interests. Ginny also worked for the Alaska Wildlife Foundation, a significant period in her life. Upon moving to Lake County, California, she served as a professor of Art and Education at Clear Lake Community College and received an Artist-in-Residence honor. Ginny developed supervisory and planning skills by working with non-profit organizations. She had teaching experience in Michigan, Alaska, and Lake County. One of her favorite authors was Virginia Woolf. She had a passion for reading and writing poetry and worked as a freelance writer for the Lake County Record-Bee, The Middletown Times Star, and the Clearlake Observer. She also contributed significantly to the development of the Lake County Library Adult Literacy Program, where she dedicated over 30 years of service. Ginny made a significant impact on many lives during her time with us. Her laughter burst out of her like the yelling of children running through the house. She consistently demonstrated care and thoughtfulness towards everyone she encountered and had a profound love for animals. She was dedicated to feeding the wild birds that visited her deck outside the bedroom, never missing a single day. Ginny leaves behind her husband, Christopher “Kit” Jones; sister, Sarah Steward; niece, Stephani; and stepsons, Nathan and Justin Jones. A memorial service will be held on June 21, 2025, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1190 North Forbes St.Lakeport, California, at 11:00 a.m. Instead of flowers, donate to the Lake County Library Adult Literacy Program, 1425 High St., Lakeport, CA 95453.