Stella ‘Marlene’ Varnell

Published 10:14 am Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Funeral services for Stella “Marlene” Varnell, of Tupelo, are today at 11 a.m. at Lee Memorial Funeral Home in Verona with burial in Lee Memorial Park. Bro. Tim Green and Dr. Roy McHenry will officiate.

Visitation is today from 10 a.m. until time of services at the funeral home.

Mrs. Varnell, 82, died Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016, at the North Mississippi Medical Center. She was born July 27, 1934, in McComb to E. J. and Retha Etheridge.

Mrs. Varnell resided in Ocean Springs for many years before moving to Tupelo. She had resided at the Coen House in Traceway Villas. She was a faithful and loving wife for 52 years until her husband passed in 2003. Mrs. Varnell was known to many simply as “Nana” and was a special and caring person. She loved life and was always the life of the party. She never met a stranger and loved everyone she met. Her door was always open to her granddaughters, great-grandchildren and family. She always took care of her family, loved to cook gumbo and entertain friends and family. She always had a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on. Mrs. Varnell will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Preceding her in death was her beloved husband, Marvin Eugene Varnell; parents; and two brothers.

Survivors are her two daughters, Beverly Hamilton, of Tupelo, and Ginger Fountain and husband, Arlen, of Biloxi; four grandchildren, Amber McHenry and husband, Michael, of Saltillo, Jodi Pittenger and husband, Bobby, of Charlotte, North Carolina, Raini Smith and husband, Justin, of Brookhaven, and Shannon Martin and husband, Jeff, of Goleta, California; 10 great-grandchildren, Autumn McHenry, Connor McHenry, Saxton McHenry, Piper McHenry, of Saltillo, Rupert Pittenger, David Pittenger, Joshua Pittenger, Warren Pittenger, Leah Pittenger, Slade Smith, of Brookhaven, and one on the way in Charlotte, North Carolina; niece, Judy Dillon, of McComb; great-nephew, Jason Dillon; and two cousins, Kathleen Alexander and Sherry Kay Purvis.

For online condolences and guest registry, visit www.leememorialonline.com.