Evelyn Rose Varner

Evelyn Rose Eddy Varner, the widow of Richard Paul Varner, passed away peacefully in her sleep on March 26, 2022 at the age of 94.

Evelyn was born on St. Patrick’s Day 1928 in Core, West Virginia to the late Ralph Gordon and Goldie Gladys (Yost) Eddy. She survived her three siblings: Helen Shaffer, Paul Eddy, and Dick Eddy.

Evelyn was a natural born artist. In high school, she took art lessons from Walt Disney and designed the logo for the Clay-Battelle Bee, which was used for several decades.

Prior to graduating high school, Evelyn was offered an art scholarship in New York, but instead chose to follow her heart and marry the love of life, Richard (aka Dad) on July 27, 1946. Together they built Varner’s Polled Herford Farm, a successful farming business that they ran from the time they got married until retirement. Together they won Outstanding Farmers for Better Living for 1964-65.

However, the pride of Evelyn’s life were her six children. She dutifully served as 4-H Leader and President of Band Booster. She was always there to encourage her children, volunteer at the school, lead fundraisers for various extra-curricular activities, and lend a hand wherever was needed in her church or in the community. She made sure her daughters knew how to feed a crowd, sew, and weave a basket. These traits have been carried forward to the next generations. She took great pride in her son, her hero that fought in Vietnam.

The only thing she enjoyed more than motherhood, was being a grandma. Over the past fifty plus years, Evelyn has been a grandmother to twenty grandchildren, plus countless others who thought of her as such. According to her, all of her grandchildren were “beautiful and smart, there was not a dummy in the bunch!” She made every one of her grandchildren feel so special and loved them with a ferocity that made them feel like the only one. Her home was always filled with love, fun, and great food. Each has a recipe they label as “Grandma’s” that every time they make it their homes takes on the warmth of their Grandma’s love.

Evelyn had the greenest of thumbs, was the hardest worker, could make the best apple pie, and knew that pepperoni rolls require a stick in the middle. She loved the Lord and could often be found worshiping and serving Him at Fairview United Methodist Church. She was also a past President of the United Methodist Women. Evelyn spent countless hours in Sunday School, making hoagies for fundraisers, and getting her hair done with the women she considered her sisters in Christ for over half a century. Her smile and laugh were infectious and she was making jokes until her last days.

Evelyn’s legacy is left to be cherished and shared by her children: Joy Lynn (Robert) Christopher; Neal (Marcia) Varner; Sharon (Jack) Lucey; Kathy (Dan) Glover; Colleen (Dan) Lucey; and Lori (Rich) Miller. She is so beloved and missed by her grandchildren: Amy (Ronnie) Trowbridge; Jen (Dan) Gouldsberry; Adam (Tammy) Lucey; Clint (Ashley) Lucey; Janelle (Jeff Devlin) Burdette; Matt (Tiffany) Lucey; Amanda (Chris) Pettit; Seth Lucey; Cody (Shasta) Lucey; Jessie (Karl) Boettcher; Abel (Ashley) Lucey; Becky Glover; Layne (Jason) Halfpenny; Abby (Anthony) Geho; Erika (Travis) Russell; Libby (Zach) Vicha; Lucas (Kilie Bungard) Christopher; Molly (Andy) Edwards; Katie (Ben) Cottrell; and Austin (Ashley) Friddle. Left to cherish the memories of their great-grandmother are forty-two great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and two expectant great-great grandchildren. Evelyn was a force of nature that cannot be summed up in a few hundred words, but her legacy will be carried forth by the legions of family she left behind.

Family and friends will be welcomed Sunday, April 3, 2022 from 12 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. at Kesterson-Rush Funeral Home, LLC, 3275 W. Roy Furman Hwy., Rogersville, PA 15359; Telephone 724 499 5181. A graveside service will follow the same day at 4:00 p.m. at Fairview Cemetery, Graysville, PA 15337.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Fairview United Methodist Church, 331 Poland Run Rd., Graysville, PA 15337.