Marvin Varnell

Ray Varnell Riser Funeral Home Columbia, LA Services for Marvin Ray Varnell, age 59 of Grayson will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, September 9,2008 from the chapel of Riser Funeral Home in Columbia with Rev. Paul Pearson and Rev. Keith Thomas officiating. Interment will follow in the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery west of Columbia. Ray was born in Columbia on September 14, 1948 to the union of James Marvin and Rose Smith Varnell and died Saturday, September 6, 2008 at LSU Medical Center in Monroe. He was a retired crane operator and mastered welding and cabintry. He most recently worked as a correctional officer. He served his country in the U.S. Army. He was preceded in death by his father: Jimmy Varnell and his wife: Faye Crain Varnell. Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law: Shannon and Kylie Varnell of Columbia, his daughters and sons-in-law: Pam and William Meredith of Pineville and Dee and Damen Roberts of Clarks, his mother: Rose Smith Varnell of Columbia, his sister and brother-in-law: Sharon Lynn and James Toney of Rayville and his grandchildren: Kassidy Varnell, Kennedy Varnell, Chelsee Meredith, Lance Roberts and Siarra Roberts. Pallbearers will be Randy Hatten, John McIlwain, Danny Lively, Chris Wheeler, David Varnell, Bob Wallace, Tommy Brown and Johnny Wayne Brown. Honorary pallbearers are Stanley E. Smith, Malvin "Buddy' Smith, James C. Toney, Billy Varnell, Mickey Evans, Robert Strickland, Gary Crain, David Hillman and Red Strickland. On line condolences may be sent to www.riserfuneralhomes. com.