FORT MEADE - Mrs. Mary Varn Fort, 97, of Fort Meade, FL, passed away Thursday, July 18, 2019. She was born on August 28, 1921 in Fort Meade, FL, to David Hugh and Irma Strain Varn.
Mary was a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was a lifelong resident of Fort Meade, and a proud member of the First Presbyterian Church for all of her 97 years. Mary, a graduate of the Florida State College for Women (now Florida State University), was a citrus grower and member-stockholder of Peace River Packing Company..
Survivors include six of her seven children: Mary Anne Whiteside and husband Jack, Jr., Dr. Charles Robert Fort and wife Carol, James Edwin Fort and wife Connie, identical triplets: Betty Lou Wallace and husband Terry, Barbara Lee Thomas and husband Steve, Beverly Lynn Shepard and husband Bill, and daughter-in-law Melissa Fort, 19 grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Richard Allen Fort; four siblings, Dr. David H. Varn, M.D., Bernard "Buddy" Varn, Nancy Bevis, and Fidelia Jahna; son, Richard Allen Fort, Jr., and great- granddaughter, Addison Grace Cook.
A Funeral Service will be held Friday, July 26, 2019, 11:00 A.M., at the First Presbyterian Church, Fort Meade, with The Reverend Dr. John G. Taylor officiating. The family will receive visitors one hour prior to the service, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM in the church sanctuary. Internment will immediately follow the service at Evergreen Cemetery.
The family would like to express gratitude to the compassionate care givers and friends at Lakeland Highlands Brookdale Senior Living.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Meade, P.O. Box 176, Fort Meade, FL 33841.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hancock Funeral Home, Fort Meade, FL.
Online condolences may be left at:
www.hancockfh.com