Joyce (Miles) Varner

Joyce Varner, 85, of Hillsboro, passed away Wednesday, December 4, 2019, at Providence Healthcare Center in Waco.  She will lie in state from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Sunday, December 8, 2019, at Marshall and Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro.  Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, December 9, 2019, at Marshall and Marshall Funeral Directors Chapel in Hillsboro, with a visitation from 12:30-2:00 p.m. prior to service time.  Burial will be at Italy Cemetery.

Joyce was born April 7, 1934, in Frost, Texas to Mardist Henry and Lonnie Dee (Hodges) Miles. She grew up in Italy and graduated from Italy High School, where she met her high school sweetheart, James Wendell Varner.  They were united in marriage on July 1, 1955.

Joyce worked for the Dallas Power and Light Company, Texas Power and Light Company, and later at Production Credit in Corsicana.  In May of 1967, she moved to Hillsboro and was employed at Robin Tech Company.  Joyce would later go to work at Hillsboro High School, first as secretary to the principal and then as administrative assistant to the superintendent.  She retired after 30 years of service.

Joyce was a very faithful and active member of the First Baptist Church in Hillsboro, where she was a member of The Esther Class and also served as church librarian. She was a very loving person, always putting her family and others before herself.

Preceding her in death were her parents; husband, Wendell Varner, on July 7, 2004; infant son, James Gregory Varner, on November 1, 1963; and brother, Mardist Lon Miles.

She is survived by her children, Miles Wendell Varner of Hillsboro and Dee Ann Dodd and husband, David, of Sulphur Springs; sisters-in-law, JoAnn Miles of Austin and Winona Merrill of El Paso; special family friend, Verda Smith of Hillsboro; and numerous other special friends.

Memorial may be made to the First Baptist Church Christian School, P.O. Box 271 Hillsboro, TX 76645 or Hillsboro ISD School Libraries, 121 East Franklin St., Hillsboro, TX 76645.