Harry R Varney

July 14, 1930 - February 7, 2019

Harry Ross Varney Jr. age 88 of Englewood, Florida died peacefully in Venice Florida of natural causes, his family by his side. Harry was born on July 14,1930 in Burlington, Vermont to Dr. Harry Ross Varney Sr. and Gladys Fuller Varney. Harry was married to the love of his life, Catherine Louise Turner for over 66 years. Together, they had five children: Linda (Steve) Reinhalter of NC, Robert (Donna) Varney of VT, Suzanne (Erik) Johnsrud of WY, Dorothy (Jeff) Hill of VT and Carol Varney of FL and were blessed with 14 grand-children and 3 great grand-children. Harry was an accomplished young man with many life long interests including coin/stamp collecting, piano, hiking, canoeing and fishing. He became an Eagle Scout, was an avid reader and excelled in academics. He attended Burlington High School and graduated in Las Cruces, New Mexico in 1948. Harry graduated from the University of Vermont in 1952 with a BS in Agricultural Economics. August 30, 1952 in Burlington, Vermont he married his true love, Catherine Louise Turner, who happened to be his best friend Gerald Turner’s little sister. They immediately drove to Indiana to set up housekeeping in student housing at Purdue University where he graduated with a Masters in Agricultural Economics in 1954. Soon after, he opted to return to VT once again, but this time with his wife and baby girl to embark on a career as a dairy farmer which lasted for 26 years in Charlotte, Vermont. For a “city boy”, this life style posed many challenges and opportunities. For starters, the farm house they moved into had no running water other than a hand water pump at the kitchen sink, an out-house out back, and insufficient electricity. Harry enjoyed fishing the waters of Vermont and other locales each season of the year. Also he bowled and played the piano throughout his life. During the farming years, Harry served in elected town positions such as Lister and Selectman. He went on extended canoe trips on the Allagash in Maine and lakes in Canada with good friends Ed Sturges, Sam Cutting, and Gerald Turner. He was a member of Masonic Lodge Friendship #24 for 62 years. Upon retirement, he and Catherine wintered in Florida and spent summers at Long Point in North Ferrisburgh, Vermont. He and Catherine were members of Myakka Pines Golf Club and Kwiniaska Golf Club. Harry was predeceased by his parents and beloved grand-daughter Sara Jo Varney. A graveside service and reception will follow at a later date in Greenwood Cemetery, Bristol, Vermont in celebration of Harry’s life. In lieu of flowers the family would prefer donations in his honor to a Parkinson’s Disease research charity of your choice.