Jimmie Lou (Stroud) Varnell

Funeral services for Jimmie Lou Varnell, 81, of Dora, will be held at 2:00 P.M., Fri., Aug. 19, 2022 at the First Baptist Church in Dora with Rev. Ben Pritchett and Rev. Wesley McAfee officiating.  Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery with Garrett Stockton, Cody Varnell, Jacob Swenson, Chase Varnell, Broxton Varnell and Marcus Zuniga serving as pallbearers.  Her caretakers, Virginia Pena, Diana Sigala, Michelle Clark, Maislyn Clark and Asusena Sigala along with the members of the Interim Hospice, Makayla, Mary Ann, Erin and Keri will serve as honorary pallbearers.  Those desiring to make memorial contributions may send them to the Dora Baptist Church.

Jimmie Lou Varnell was born June 12, 1941, on the family ranch at Pep to the home of Jeraldine (Carter) and Jim Arthur Stroud, and died at her home near Dora on the afternoon of Aug. 14, 2022.  Jimmy Lou attended school in the Portales schools until the 9th grade when she moved to Lovington.  She became the Head Cheerleader for the school, and was also named Miss LHS.  Jimmie Lou graduated from Lovington High School in 1959.  She attended Eastern New Mexico University for a year before marrying Bennie Stockton.  The couple had two sons.

Jimmie Lou served as secretary at Portales High School for ten years, leaving in 1976 to return to her university studies.  During her years at the High School, Jimmie served as sponsor for the Cheerleaders.  At the university, she completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Education in 1978, and just over a year later earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.  In addition to studies, she also served as Secretary to the President of the University, Warren Armstrong.  On Aug. 10, 1979 in Portales, she was married to Terry Varnell.  From that time on, Jimmie Lou did the bookkeeping for their business interests.  Among those businesses was a grain elevator that they built in Rogers.

Jimmie Lou was an excellent cook, and loved to bake.  Every time there was a family gathering, she took requests for each person’s favorite pie, and baked it especially for them!  She was a member of the Dora Baptist Church.  Whenever there was a dinner at church or any occasion when food was called for, Jimmie Lou always brought an abundance.    In addition to her contributions of food, she sometimes led singing, and also taught classes for the youth.  Several of the ones she had taught credited her with having brought them to faith in Jesus.

During their years together, she and Terry traveled extensively.  Among their favorite destinations was Las Vegas.  Jimmie Lou and her sister-in-law, Eckie Stroud bowled on a team together for several years.  She and Terry enjoyed going to all of the games for their grandchildren, and attended every game they could at the Dora schools.  She and Terry enjoyed dancing, and were members for a number of years of the Cotillion Club.

She is survived by Terry, her husband of just over 43 years, of their home; two sons and daughters-in-law, Bill and September Stockton of Tatum, NM and Dale and Judy Varnell of Portales; two daughters and sons-in-law, Rae Etta and Mario Zuniga of Los Lunas, NM and Connie and Mike Ferguson of Rogers, NM; nine grandchildren, Savannah Brooke Stockton, William “Garrett” (Jessie) Stockton, Cody Dale (Ashley) Varnell, Amber Dawn Varnell, Tori (Jacob) Swenson, Andrew “Chase” Varnell, Terri Lynn (Adam) Zuniga, Marcus Daniel Zuniga and Tina Suzanne Zuniga; four great-grandchildren, William Krew Stockton, Saylor Varnell, Broxton Varnell and Bowen Varnell; and a sister-in-law, Eckie (Mrs. Jerry Wayne) Stroud of Portales; and a niece Kerri Sue Smith and her family.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Jerry Wayne Stroud who died in 1992 and by a son, Ronnie Stockton who died in 1998.

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