Cecil Varner

TAMMS, Ill. -- Cecil E. "Gene" Varner, 68, of Tamms passed away at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, at his home surrounded by his family.

He was born May 11, 1952, at Cairo, Illinois, the son of Betty Varner and Lavern Boyd. He was married on Aug. 22, 1969, to Mildred Browning.

Gene was a member of Elco (Illinois) 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 at Tamms and Elco, and at Schaefer's in Wolf Lake, Illinois.

Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Mildred Varner; sons, Eric 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; sister, Pamela Chamness; brother, Jeffrey Jordan; nieces, nephews and other relatives.

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

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms. Service will follow at noon Wednesday at the funeral home with the Rev. Billy Carter officiating. Interment will follow at Sims Cemetery.

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