On Saturday, January 13, 2024, after eating breakfast and lunch and having a nice conversation with those around her, Jean Vardeman peacefully left for her heavenly home. A funeral service to celebrate her life will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, January 18, 2024, in the Chapel at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home, 6101 Bosque Boulevard, Waco, Texas. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home.
Jean was the oldest of three daughters of Buster and Ethel Trussell. She was born on August 14, 1929, in Mount Calm, Texas where she lived on her parents’ farm until she graduated from Mount Calm High School. Jean was the valedictorian of her graduating class at the age of 16, and soon after graduating, she left for Waco, Texas where she would live for the rest of her life. On February 4, 1948, she married Garnet Vardeman, and they celebrated 62 years of marriage until he passed away in 2010. Jean was a long-time, faithful member of the First Baptist Church of Woodway. She loved to sing and was a member of the Baylor Senior Choir. She supported her husband and four children while they attended and graduated from Baylor University and in 2010, she was excited to become a Baylor Alumni By Choice.
Jean is preceded in death by her husband, Garnet; her parents, Buster and Ethel Trussell; her sister and brother-in-law, Anne Trussell Overton and Gene Overton; her brother-in-law, James Welch; her father and mother-in law, Alton and Zoie Vardeman; her mother-in-law, Epsie Vardeman; her sister-in-law, Dixie Vardeman Wilson; and her sister-in-law, Hazel Vardeman.
She is survived by her sister, Marcalene Trussell Welch; her children, including Cindy Vardeman Hester, and her husband, David, Kathy Vardeman Garner and her husband, Steve, Larry Vardeman and his wife, Debbie, and Becky Vardeman Murphy and her husband, Randy; her two brothers-in-law, Gene Vardeman and David Vardeman; her grandchildren, including Matthew Vardeman and his wife, Susan, Thomas Vardeman, Sarah Hester Robison and her husband, Daniel, Anne Hester Cates and her husband, Jacob, Lauren Vardeman Henderson and her husband, Daniel, Max Garner and his fiancé, Nicole Duffy, Kat Murphy and her wife, Liz, Randall Clay Murphy and his wife Niki, and Meredith Murphy Holub and her husband, Patrick. Jean is also survived by 11 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Jean was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She enjoyed cooking for family and friends and was known for her homemade pies. She will be deeply missed.
Pallbearers are Matthew Vardeman, Thomas Vardeman, Max Garner, Daniel Robison, Jacob Cates, Daniel Henderson and Gibson Hester.
The family wishes to thank the caregivers who cared for their mother as she dealt with dementia. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Waco, 710 North 64th Street, Waco, Texas 76710 or your favorite charity.
The family invites you to leave a message or memory on the Jean’s “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.
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