Mrs. Kay Varner of Evergreen passed away Tuesday, December 13, 2022 in Brewton, AL. She was 88.

She was Kay to her husband and friends, Mama to her children, and Grandmother and Great Grandmother to her “grands”.  But to those who knew and loved her she was much more than a name.  She was the embodiment of a godly woman.   Kay, accompanied by her twin brother, was born on March 28, 1934, in La Junta, Colorado to Keith and Helen Hathaway.  She spent most of her childhood in Vallejo, California and came to live in Alabama in 1953.  She adopted Alabama as her new home state and was a southern lady for the rest of her life.   Kay and Charles married in 1966, becoming longtime residents of Evergreen, remaining there until 1999 when they moved to Tallassee.  In 2015 they moved to Brewton, where Kay enjoyed attending the Brewton Church of Christ, going to the library and the senior center, going out to eat, and attending the T.R. Miller home football games for as long as she was able.  Many nights she could be found sitting in her favorite chair, reading her Bible.  Kay loved her family, and we are heartbroken that she is no longer with us in the physical sense, but she will be forever in our hearts.   

Funeral services will be held 2:00 pm., Friday, December 16, 2022, at Cope-Keahey Funeral Home chapel. Billy Lambert will officiate. Interment will follow in the Magnolia Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to services at Cope-Keahey Funeral Home. Cope-Keahey Funeral Home directing.

Kay is survived by her husband of 56 years, Charles R. Varner and her children, Cynthia Killough Brown (Sid), Grand Island, FL, Keith Killough (Marie), Gilbert, AZ, Kathryn Killough Stengel (Kevin), Albertville, AL, Karen Varner Jones (Russ), Montgomery, AL, and Kenneth Varner (JoAnna), Brewton, AL. Kay had eight grandchildren who she dearly loved.   They are Paul DuBose (DeAnne), Andalusia, AL, David Killough (Fiona), Angola, Africa, Micah Killough (Chrissy), Gilbert, AZ, Luke Killough, Kevin Cartwright, Los Angeles, California, Carson Sprayberry (Maggie), Birmingham, AL, Dawson Varner, Brewton, AL, and Kailyn Varner, who held an extra special place in Kay’s heart.  She is also survived by 12 great grandchildren and two sisters, Patricia Keating of Farmington, Minnesota, and Linda Garcia of Richmond, California.  Her cat Duke will also miss her.   Kay was preceded in death by her parents and her twin brother, Kenneth Hathaway.

Serving as pallbearers, Paul Dubose, Carson Sprayberry, Dawson Varner, Keith Killough, Kevin Stengle and Russell Jones. Honorary pallbearers, Sid Brown, Kevin Cartwright, David Killough, Micah Killough and Luke Killough.

“She is more precious than rubies and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared into her.”  Proverbs 3:15
Sweet dreams, Mama.