Connie Jean (Irons) Vestal

Connie Jean (Irons) Vestal died on Sept. 27, 2022, at the age of 79.

Connie was born on Oct. 22, 1942, in Palmyra, Nebraska, to Allen Eugene Irons and ThayliaJune (Hill) Irons. Connie spent her early years on a ranch in Banner County, Nebraska, and attended elementary school before her family relocated to the West Texas town of Hart. Connie completed her public school education in Hart where she played on the girl’s high school basketball team and was salutatorian of her graduating class. After high school, Connie attended West Texas State College in Canyon.

Connie married her husband, Ovis Benjamin Vestal, of Plainview, on Aug. 26, 1965. She accompanied him to Newport, Rhode Island, where he attended Naval Officer Candidate School, and after he received his commission as a naval officer, they relocated to Yokosuka, Japan, for his first duty assignment. During the next several years, Connie worked for the base newspaper. The couple’s daughter, Karie, was born at the Yokosuka Naval base on September 4, 1969, shortly before they returned to the States for her husband’s discharge. They then returned to Texas where she began her career with American Express. Over the next 31 years, Connie worked in various positions with American Express in San Antonio, Dallas and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and retired in 2004 as manager of Budget and Administration of the Southeastern Region in Fort Lauderdale. After retirement, the couple moved back to Texas where they made their home in Elgin, where Connie made many new friends and was actively involved in the local homeowner’s association.

Connie is survived by her husband, Ovis; daughter, Karie Diane Vestal and husband, Scott Bosarge, of Santa Clarita, California; grandsons, Miles and Ellis; granddaughter, Gemma; sisters, Vera Smith, of Mena, Arkansas, Dixie Ward, of Clarendon, and Roxana Welder, of Baytown; brothers, David Irons, of Claude, Kent Irons, of Abilene, and Bryan Irons, of Abilene; and many nieces and nephews.

Connie was preceded in death by her mother, Thaylia; her father, Allen; and her brother, Kenneth Irons.

A visitation was held on Saturday, Oct. 1, from 3 to 5 p.m. at Providence-Jones Family Funeral Home. A graveside service was held on Tuesday, Oct. 4, at 11 a.m. at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen.

Arrangements entrusted to Providence-Jones Family Funeral Home.