Cecil E. ‘Gene’ Varner

Cecil E. “Gene” Varner, 68, of Tamms, died at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, at home, surrounded by his family.

He was born on May 11, 1952, in Cairo, the son of Betty Varner and Lavern Boyd.  

He was married on Aug. 22, 1969, to Mildred Browning.

Mr. Varner was a member of Elco Baptist Church. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, building race cars and being with his family.  He had worked at Cook Portable Warehouses, Heartland Construction, the silica plants in Tamms and Elco and at Schaefer’s in Wolf Lake.

Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Mildred; sons Eric Varner and Zachary Varner; daughter Tina (Allen) Jordan; his mother, Betty Jordan; six grandchildren, Jessica Kelly, Ryan Jordan, Cody Jordan, Patrick Varner, Lacy Jordan and Kyle Varner; five  great-grandchildren, Kynle, Kyson, Karea, Kalem and McKenna; a sister, Pamela Chamness; a brother, Jeffrey Jordan; nieces, nephews and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by a great-grandchild, Desylyn Jordan; by a brother, Benjamin Jordan; and by his father.

Funeral services were at noon Wednesday, Feb. 3, at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms, with the Rev. Billy Carter officiating. Interment followed in Sims Cemetery.  

To view the full obituary or to leave an online condolence for the family, visit www.crainsonline.com.

Crain Funeral Home in Tamms was in charge of arrangements.