Bert Varner

Funeral services are scheduled at 10:00 A.M. Friday, Sep. 2, at West Main Baptist Church for Bert C. Varner of Artesia, New Mexico.

Mr. Varner, 82, died Monday, August 29, 2011 in Lubbock, Texas.

Dr. J. Mark Robinson minister in Canton, Texas and Jason Kraft will officiate at the services with burial Friday at 2:30 p.m. at Prairie Haven Memorial Park in Hobbs, New Mexico. Pallbearers will be Rusty McKee, Dan Cougar, Don Bennett, Billy Varner, Billy Horner, and David Pittman. Honorary pallbearers will be Johnny Ellis, Sonny Letcher, Harold Funk, Eugene Varner, and Charlie Kemp.

Visitation will be at Terpening Son Mortuary Thursday beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Bert was born April 18, 1929 in Seminole, Oklahoma the son of Walter Washington Varner and Alta Etta Lewis Varner. He was a longtime Artesia and Hobbs resident.

He was a veteran in the United States Army, serving stateside during the Korean Conflict. After a Honorable Discharge, he returned home to work in the family business, Varners Safety Lane, with his father. After his fathers death he continued running the business until he retired in 1996 at which time his son Charles, who had been working there as a boy, continued to run the business until 2004.

On October 20, 1950 he married Alma Dorsey in Artesia. They were married for 49 years 11 months when she preceded him in death in September of 2000. Then during his 55th Artesia High School Class reunion Bert met Faye Pittman, a former 11th grade classmate. After a 6 month courtship Bert and Faye married in Artesia on April 6, 2002.

Bert enjoyed the many friendships, both old and new in Artesia.

Along with his first wife Bert was also preceded in death by his parents brothers George Edgar Varner and Harold Varner and stepson Donnie Pittman.

Survivors include his wife Faye Varner of the family home daughters Sheila Jones of Los Lunas, N.M., and Scharlotte Johnson and husband Frank of Hobbs son Charles Varner and wife Debra of Hobbs stepson David Pittman and wife Fran of El Vado, N.M. sister Margaret Graham of Lubbock, Texas, and Thelma Kemp and husband Charlie of Hobbs brother Eugene Varner and wife Mary Jo of Hobbs grandchildren Valarie Peirce of Rio Rancho, N.M., Charles Johnson and wife Sheila of Hobbs, Natasha Jones of Lubbock, Billy Varner and wife Ashley of Hobbs, and Lezlie Varner Easter of Hobbs greatgrandchildren KLin Pierce of Canyon, Texas, Ty Pierce of Rio Rancho, Carter Johnson of Hobbs, Zaveon Jones of Los Lunas, Kanyon Johnson of Hobbs, Hayley Easter of Hobbs, Brooklyn Crossland of Hobbs, and Aubrey Varner of Hobbs and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and great friends.

Memorial contribution may be made to the West Main Baptist Church building fund.