Ann Therese Varnell Strain's Obituary
Ann Therese Varnell Strain, 55, died peacefully at home December 1, 2018. She was a lifelong Memphian and the daughter of the late Henry Varnell of Memphis and Mary Ellen Varnell of Las Cruces, N.M. In addition to her mother, she is survived by two daughters, Victoria Strain and Meredith Strain, both of Memphis; a sister, Kay Ledbetter (Steve) of LaFayette, Georgia; a brother, Henry Varnell III (Margaret) of Nashville; her stepmother, Jeanne Varnell of Memphis; a three stepsisters, Ruthie Bernabe (Jose) of Memphis, Laurence Gammon (Atlanta, GA), Toni Dick and and her husband Quentin Heim (Saratoga, CA), a stepbrother, Daly Thompson III, of Los Angeles; and many loving nieces and nephews. Born July 19, 1963, she was branch office administrator for Edward Jones Financial Advisors and a member of Asbury United Methodist Church. She embodied the words of St. Paul to his disciple Timothy: “We may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our savior.” Her family remembers her as a devoted daughter, sister, and aunt known for her life of love and kindness to others. Ann’s life revolved around the joy she found in her beloved family, her wide circle of cherished friends, her home and yard, her travels, and her two dogs. Thinking about others in unexpected and unheralded acts of caring characterized her entire life, and the night before her death, she celebrated Christmas and gave her gifts to her daughters, who now move forward with the greatest gift of all: her example in their own lives. Services will be held Saturday, December 8, at Asbury United Methodist Church, 2969 South Mendenhall Road in Memphis, with visitation from 1-3 p.m. and services at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital http://giftfunds.stjude.org/annstrain Arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38119 (901) 767-8930. “Celebrating Life… Behind the Stone Wall”.
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