Varner, Andrew Lee Scott

Passed: 1914-03-18

Age: 73

Source: Mountaineer

Death Notice:

Obituary Date: 1914-03-20

Information:  Andrew Lee Scott Varner, a prominent citizen and former merchant of Ravenswood, died of pneumonia at his home at 4:20 p.m. Wednesday, March 18th, after an illness of one week, aged 73 years, 1 month and 8 days.  Mr. Varner was born at Glenville, Gilmer county, February 10, 1841, of a family widely and favorably known in that section of the state.  During the Civil War, he served as a State soldier of home guard, and afterwards served in the several capacities of postmaster at Glenville and Circuit Clerk of Gilmer county.  In 1873 he came to Wilding in Jackson county, where on September 25th, at Muses Bottom, he married Miss Tennie Beaty and soon thereafter located on his Straight Fork farm, which he later sold.  He then bought and settled on the Blake or Beaty farm, near Silverton, where he resided for some years.      Mr. Varner, with a leaning towards politics, became Deputy Sheriff under Jas. M. Poling and afterward served in the same capacity under Sheriff I. M. Adams.  About fifteen years ago he moved to Ravenswood where he became a member of the Town Council and was engaged in the mercantile business until but little more than a year prior to his death.  The deceased at the age of twenty-three was converted to an active Christian life and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in which he maintained a consistent membership to the end.  He was a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge and the Knights of Pythias, having served for several successive terms as Keeper of the Records and Seal in the latter fraternity.      Mr. Varner leaves a wife and four children to mourn the loss of a faithful husband and gentle father, all of whom, Mrs. A. L. S. Varner, Harry, Robert L., Blanche (Mrs. E. W. Rector of Parkersburg), and Miss Edith, were present at the hour of death.  There are also living two brothers, one at Bridgeport, Illinois, and one at Troy, West Virginia, and a sister, Miss Mary, at Ravenswood.  Owing to the high esteem in which deceased was held by a large circle of friends and admiring acquaintances, his death will be widely mourned as a distinct loss to the membership of our community.  He was quiet, unassuming, dignified, and scrupulously careful in his commercial transactions, generous, and magnanimous to a fault of others.  If he ever offended anybody, it is almost safe to say, he was forgiven even without the asking.  Such was the dignified but simple life that has now passed through the portals of death, we trust to brighter chimes in the realms of eternity.  The last sad rites will be conducted at Ravenswood Friday, the 20th, at 2 o'clock p.m., and the interment will be in the local cemetery.  Religious services will be conducted by the Rev. Mr. Sheppard of the M. E. Church, and lodge ceremonies by Othelo Lodge No. 51, Knight of Pythias.  [written by G. H. C.]   (McIntyre)