Virginia Utt

The most important things in Virginia Utt's life were God, her family and her business.

Mrs. Utt died on Monday, October 3, 2011 after a yearlong battle with Cancer.

She was born on January 2, 1931 in Marion, North Carolina to Pearl and Dan Webb, who was a builder. She moved all around the country wherever her father's building contracts were located and attended more than 13 schools.

Mrs. Utt was a bright child and was moved up a couple of grades until she graduated from high school at age 16.

She attended North Texas State University where she met her husband of 50 years, Clyde Utt.

She was a stay at home mother of four girls in Dallas, until she started her own business as a sales representative at the Dallas Apparel Mart at age 50. At first she didn't want to open her own business, but her husband encouraged her to do so.

"He made me start my own business kicking and screaming," she often said.

The business was successful under Mrs. Utt's strong leadership and high business acumen and grew until she was representing many manufacturers of women's designer clothing including Bob Mackie Boutique, Oleg Cassini Black Tie, and less expensive lines such as Maggie London.

Virginia Utt Sales, her business, was vastly different from other such businesses when she first opened it in 1979. During market weeks at the Apparel Mart, the atmosphere was rife with drugs and partying non-stop. She didn't participate in the culture, and held her employees to her own Judeo-Christian ethics.

While in business, she was able to educate her employees by example about her faith in God. She said many times that her first calling was to minister to Christians and help nurture their faith.

She and Mr. Utt moved to Plano in 1990 and joined Prestonwood Baptist Church.

Mrs. Utt became the matriarch of her family after her husband passed away in 2002. She loved her children dearly and encouraged them in all their endeavors. She showered them with love and was a good counselor to them when they faced problems in their lives.

She closed her business in 2003 and began working for Total Patient Care, a home-health care agency owned by one of her former employees, as Director of Patient Relations. Again, just like in her own business, she took a personal interest in the company's success and ministered to her coworkers about their faith in God.

Mrs. Utt is survived by her four daughters, Krissy and husband James Christie, Holly and husband Roger Hudgins, Abby and husband Brian Celico, Sally and husband Bill Claunch, and six grandchildren.

The family will receive friends at a visitation from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 6, 2011 at Allen Family Funeral Options. A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, October 7, 2011 at Christ Church Plano, 4550 Legacy Dr., Plano, Texas 75024.