Dennis Lee Varnes

DENNIS LEE VARNES, 78 WENT TO BE WITH THE LORD ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2026 AT HIS HOME IN EASTPOINT FLORIDA WITH HIS LOVING WIFE BONNIE BY HIS SIDE. HE WAS BORN JANUARY 17, 1948 IN PORT ST JOE, FLORIDA.

DENNIS ATTENDED CHAPMAN HIGH SCHOOL IN APALACHICOLA WHERE HE EXCELLED IN ATHLETICS (FOOTBALL AND BASEBALL).
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL IN 1968, HE ENLISTED IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY AND SPENT 6 YEARS SERVING OUR GREAT NATION. AFTER EXITING THE NAVY HE TRANSITIONED TO THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD WHERE HE DEPLOYED TO IRAQ DURING THE DESERT
SHIELD/STORM CAMPAIGNS. HE RETIRED FROM THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD AFTER SERVING FOR 19 ½ YEARS.

HE SPENT MOSTOF HIS ADULT LIFE WORKING ON THE WATERS OF APALACHICOLA BAY OYSTERING, FISHING, AND SHRIMPING. HE LATER BECAME A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA AND RETIRED FROM THAT PROFESSION AS A LIEUTENANT AFTER SERVING FOR 20 YEARS. DURING WHICH TIME HE TAUGHT CORRECTIONAL COURSES
AT GULF COAST COMMUNITY COLLEGE. HE ALSO SPENT 5 YEARS AS AN AUXILLARY DEPUTY SHERIFF. 

AS A PASTTIME, HE LOVED TO GO CAMPING AND CATCHING CATFISH WITH HIS WIFE BONNIE.

HE IS PRECEDED IN DEATH BY HIS FATHER, JULIAN VARNES AND MOTHER, MARY VARNES OF APALACHICOLA.

HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE OF 43 YEARS, BONNIE VARNES, HIS PRECIOUS DAUGHTER, CHRISTINA HARRIS, HER HUSBAND ASHLEY, AND THE APPLE OF HIS EYE GRANDSON BRAYDEN HARRIS, THREE SONS FROM A PREVIOUS MARRIAGE LEE, TIMOTHY, AND PATRICK; BROTHER KEN VARNES OF PANAMA CITY, HIS WIFE MARIANNE, NEPHEWS EDDIE VARNES AND WIFE KRISTL OF CRAWFORDVILLE, FL, AND BRIAN VARNES AND WIFE JILL OF MARIETTA, GA ALONG WITH NIECES MACIE AND KENDAL OF CRAWFORDVILLE, FL AND NEPHEW BRAYDEN OF MARIETTA, GA.
DENNIS WAS A FUN LOVING, EASY GOING MAN WITH A BIG HEART THAT SAW GOOD IN EVERYONE AND WOULD LITERALLY GIVE YOU HIS SHIRT OFF HIS BACK. THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF MEN LIKE DENNIS VARNES. REST IN PEACE.

FUNERAL SERVICES WILL BE HELD AT 11:00 AM ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2026 AT HIGH CALLING CHURCH IN EASTPOINT,
FLORIDAWITH PASTOR RON CRUM OFFICIATING. THERE WILL BE NO COMMITAL SERVICES TO FOLLOW. MR VARNES WILL BE LAID TO REST PRIVATELY AT EASTPOINT CEMETERY.

ARRANGEMENTS ARE ENTRUSTED TO THE CARING STAFF OF COMFORTER FUNERAL HOME IN PORT ST JOE, FLORIDA.