Virgie Leola Bakke

Virgie Leola McFadden Bakke of Cleburne, Texas passed away Saturday, June 18th, 2016 at age 80. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 am on Thursday, June 23rd, 2016 at the Clifton Cemetery in Clifton, Texas.

She was born on January 1st, 1936 to Andrew and Virgie McFadden in Clifton, Texas. Virgie lived a life of kindness and generosity by taking on the roles of a dedicated teacher, loyal friend, fun sister, devoted wife, caring mother, and loving grandmother.

Virgie grew up in Clifton, Texas, where she attended elementary,middle, and high school. She made many lifelong friends that have stayed in touch with each other throughout the years. Their monthly luncheons were something she always looked forward to. Virgie was an active member of the First Baptist Church Clifton for over 20 years. She began dating her to-be husband of 59 years, Bill Bakke, in 1956 and they were happily married on December 27th, 1957 at First Baptist Church Clifton. She settled down with Bill in Cleburne, Texas and within a few years began raising her two children Mike and Karen.

Virgie dedicated much of her life to helping others and served as a teacher's aide for 25 years at Irving, Adams, Fulton, and was honored to have been able to work with the children in the life skills unit at Cleburne Middle School before retiring in May of 1999. Even after retirement, she continued to spend her time substitute teaching in Cleburne ISD until spring 2005 where her passion for education and supporting others was reflected in all that she strived for.

In recent years, Virgie loved going to see movies with friends, attending church bible study, reading Christian literature, baking cookies and spoiling her grandchildren. The many excursions she and her sisters took to celebrate their birthdays were very special to her. Virgie had a unique way of connecting and building strong, caring relationships with everyone she met and would often seal these relationships with fresh, homemade cookies that even the strong-willed could not resist. She had a genuinely kind heart and a radiating smile that brought warmth to everyone who was lucky enough to know her.

Her loving survivors include: son Mike Bakke and wife Angie of Colleyville Texas; daughter: Karen Wright and husband Rob of San Marcos, Texas; and four grandchildren: Andrea and Lori Bakke, and Lane and Shane Wright. Sisters: Faye Heath and husband Jerry of Valley Mills, Texas, Valorie Westley and husband Hayden of Waco, Texas; and nephews: Chad Heath and family, Denver Heath and family, Steven Westley and family, many beloved cousins, extended family, and lifelong friends she held dear to her heart. She is preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Bill Bakke (1930-2014).

In lieu of flowers, the Bakke family requests that donations be made to the Cleburne Education Foundation(visit:www.CleburneEducationFoundation.com/donate or call 817-202-1199) or to the Cleburne ISD Alumni Scholarship Fund (call 817-202-1112).