Kathleen R. Varvel (Lebanon)'s Obituary
KATHLEEN ROSE VARVEL
Kathleen Rose Varvel, daughter of James Bradley and Virginia Lorene Clemmons McGuire, was born October 18, 1944, in Kansas City, Missouri. She departed this life Tuesday, June 25, 2019, in Colonial Springs Healthcare Center, in Buffalo, Missouri, at the age of seventy-four years, eight months, and seven days.
On July 1, 1972, she was united in marriage to Roger Charles Varvel, and they shared forty-seven years together.
Her parents preceded her in death.
Kathie is survived by her husband, Roger, of the home; two daughters, Rita “Lori” Sullivan, and her husband, Miguel Balboa, of Boston, Massachusetts, and Amanda Sullivan, and her husband, Tim Horn, of New York City, New York; three sons, Kevin Varvel, and his wife, Kimberly, of Helena, Montana, Eric Varvel, and his wife, Sandi, of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Kean Varvel, of Shawnee, Kansas; nine grandchildren, Joey, Michaela, Nick, Ashley, Zzyzx, Emma “Misaki”, Oliver, Samantha, and Simon; a great-grandson, Nathan; a brother, James Neal McGuire, and his wife, Sherry, of Cottonwood, Arizona; as well as a host of other relatives, including several cousins, and many friends.
She was born and raised in Kansas City, and Raytown, Missouri, and then graduated from Westbury High School in Houston, Texas, while the family was living there. Kathie returned to Missouri in 1969. After she and Roger were married, they made their home in Independence, Missouri and Shawnee, Kansas, and Kathie was a devoted homemaker to her husband and family. Later they moved to Lebanon, Missouri and made their home. In 1987, Kathie became interested in cutting gemstones and she and Roger began selling jewelry, minerals and fossils which they collected from all over the Midwest. They loved to go rock hunting for all kinds of minerals and fossils and, through the years, traveled from Oregon to North Carolina, and from Texas to the UP of Michigan. They also hunted in Ireland and Spain. Kathleen had made her profession of faith in Christ and was a member of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Lebanon.
She belonged to the Osage Rock and Mineral Club of Osage Beach, Missouri. She was very artistic and had completed several paintings. Her family was very dear to her and she especially enjoyed having time with her grandchildren and great-grandson.
Kathie was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate her life and her accomplishments and know that her family and friends will cherish the wonderful memories she created for them during her lifetime.
Memorial donations may be made to "The Shepherd's Pack" at First Christian Church and may be left at the funeral home.
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