Norman Donald Varnadore

Services for Don Varnadore, Sr. will be held Thursday, February 16th, 2023 at First Baptist Church of Palmetto - 1021 5th Street West, Palmetto, Florida. Services begin with Visitation at 10:00am, followed by Celebration of Life at 11:00 am. Groover Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Graveside services will be private. Officiating will be Reverend Tom Winter who will be assisted by the host pastor Dr. Phillip

Hamm, and grandson Pastor Nathan Varnadore of Lecanto.

Don was born in Palmetto, FL December 21, 1936 to Addie Mae Bland and Norman Dewett Varnadore. He was raised with his 2 brothers - Raymond Varnadore, Bruce Varnadore, and his 3 Sisters - Margaret Ann Albritton, Betty Linda Stovall, and Mary Jean Owens. “Don” graduated from the University of Florida in 1958 and began working as a CPA in 1963. He went on to found CPA Associates and worked in accounting for 50 years. He was a lifetime Deacon at First Baptist Church of Palmetto. He was -City of Palmetto “Man of the Year” in 1972, President of the Palmetto Rotary Club, Appointed by the Southern Baptist Convention in the field of Missions, President of the Palmetto Boys Club, Appointed by the Govenor as The Chairman of the Board of Manatee Community College, President of the Manatee County Chamber of Commerce, America’s Finest Father’s- Regional Father of The Year 1987, President of the Palmetto High School Athletic Boosters Club, The Salvation Army’s Crystal Shield Award, Manatee County Fair 2006 Distinguished Citizen Award, Inducted into the Palmetto High School Inaugural Hall of Fame -Community Contributor - 2023 . All these accomplishments pale in comparison to his greatest accomplishment as a family man.

He married Eileen Gay of Sarasota, on July 4, 1957. She was the love of his life and his purpose. Together they had three children: Don Junior (Sandra), David (Yvette) and Brian (Diane). They have five grandchildren: David’s sons Nathan (Melissia), Seth (Brooke), and Zachary (Ari) and Brian’s sons Jordan (Jordan) and Abel (Morghan). Don and Eileen have 10 great-grandchildren two from Nathan; Donovan and Kinley, four from Jordan; Covington, Charleston, Oxford, and Callaway, three from Seth; Scarlett, Charlotte and David and one from Abel; Beau. He is survived by many friends and family. He was 86 years old.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Palmetto High School Boys basketball program by going to www.palmettotigers.com/don or by writing a check to:

Palmetto Boosters

1180 8th Ave West #123

Palmetto, Fl 34221

Memo: PHS Boys Basketball.