Marie Varner Cowart

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, February 18, 2013, at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Chapel of Faith, 5701 Highway 277 South, Abilene, Texas, with B.J. McMichael officiating. Burial will follow in Loop Cemetery, Loop, Texas, directed by Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at a visitation 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Marie was born May 9, 1929 to J.S. Varner and Mary Alice Latham Varner in Stith, Texas. She married Gus Cowart. Marie and her husband were the first house parents for Disability Resources in Abilene. She and her husband owned and operated several grocery stores in West Texas. Marie was very active in Baker Heights Church of Christ.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Gus Cowart; daughter, Janet Addison; brother, Austin Varner; and sister, Florene Barron, Lucy Glaze, and Lula Mae Varner.

Survivors include her son, Kelly Cowart and wife, Wendy of El Paso, Texas; two daughters, Sharon Hambrick and husband, Reggie of Ackerly, Texas and Karen Black and husband, Steve of Trophy Club, Texas; brother, Cleddy Varner of Abilene; sisters, Leola Tarbet of Lubbock and Faye Norman of Round Rock, Texas; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association, 301 South Pioneer Drive, Suite 105, Abilene, Texas 79605 or Integracare Hospice of Abilene LLC, 1665 Antilley Road, Abilene, Texas 79606.

You may view and sign the guestbook at www.elliott-hamil.com