Cecil E. "Gene" Varner

May 11, 1952 - January 30, 2021

Cecil E. “Gene” Varner, 68, of Tamms, passed away at 11:30am Saturday, January 30, 2021 at home surrounded by his family. He was born May 11, 1952 at Cairo, IL, the son of Betty Varner and Lavern Boyd. He was married on Aug. 22, 1969 to Mildred Browning. Gene was a member of Elco Baptist Church and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and 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. Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Mildred; sons, Eric Varner and Zachary Varner; daughter, Tina (Allen) Jordan; his mother, Betty Jordan; 6 grandchildren, Jessica Kelly, Ryan Jordan, Cody Jordan, Patrick Varner, Lacy Jordan, and Kyle Varner; 5 great grandchildren, Kynle, Kyson, Karea, Kalem, and McKenna; sister, Pamela Chamness and brother Jeffrey Jordan; nieces, nephews, and other relatives. He was preceded in death by a great grandchild, Desylyn Jordan and a brother Benjamin Jordan, and his father. Visitation will be from 10-12 Wednesday, Feb. 3 at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms. Services will follow at 12 noon Wednesday at the funeral home with Rev. Billy Carter officiating. Interment will follow at Sims Cemetery.