SERVICE Hill & Son Funeral Home in Appleton City, Missouri on Monday, August 23, 2010 at 2:00 p.m.

MINISTER Pastor Tony Reynolds

VISITATION Hill & Son Funeral Home in Appleton City, Missouri on Monday, August 23, 2010 between 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

INTERMENT Appleton City Cemetery in Appleton City, Missouri

MEMORIAL Omega Health Care (Hospice), 3171 N.E. Carnegie, Lee's Summit 64064

Iola Marie Varns, daughter of Russell and Pearl (Hereford) McConnell was born on June 13, 1920. She left us peacefully on August 20, 2010, while residing at Foxwood Springs in Raymore, Missouri. She had just celebrated her 90th birthday with her family and friends.
Iola, along with her fraternal twin sister, Viola, lost their mother as infants and were happily raised by their new mother, Bertha (Niemann) McConnell, through high school in Appleton City, Missouri. Memories were then created and shared with an older brother, Merle, and a younger sister, Jeaneane, and brother, Harold.
After writing letters for a year to a special man in her life, Iola traded her beautician skills to become the wife to Jasper William Varns, a marriage that would last for 57 years. With the great depression behind, now as a homemaker, she prevailed through World War II, became a mother of her only son, Jerry, and provided a happy home during the uncertain times of the 1950s – 1980s. Iola is definitely on the rolls of the "greatest generation".
Iola was a soft-spoken woman, made friends easily, and the strength in her quietness and smile solidified her marriage and the relationships with others. Her hobbies ranged from crocheting, crafts, fishing, collecting antique salts, playing games, especially winning at triominos, and rooting for the KC Royals.
Iola is survived by her son Jerry Varns and wife Janet of Durham, North Carolina; twin sister Viola Johnson of Kearney, Missouri; brother Harold McConnell of Sebastian, Florida; sister-in-law Etta Varns of Butler, Missouri; four granddaughters: Lana (Steve) Thompson of Fargo, North Dakota, Tanja (Joe) Sclafani of Cary, North Carolina, Stacy (Eric) Brandenburg of Duluth, Minnesota and Lisa Varns of Greenwood, Mississippi; and the gems in her life – 12 great grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren.