Eric Stephen Varner

Eric Stephen Varner was born January 4, 1972. Eric was an extremely spirited child, stirring up mischief wherever he went, particularly with his best friend Don. His inquisitive nature allowed him to absorb everything around him, and he became an extremely precocious young man. Very early on, Eric developed a deep love for all animals, and had many beloved pets over the years. From dogs and cats, to a lizard, a ferret, and even a squirrel, there was no critter off limits. Out of the menagerie, Eric did have two babies that he loved above all others: Mystere and Isis. Ironically, Mystere, mysteriously disappeared when she was 15, and Isis died in his arms, from a heart attack, just this past summer.

Eric graduated from Ruskin High School in 1990. He was active in drama, and held great admiration for the theater all of his life. He loved his artistic classes, particularly sculpting, and he dabbled a bit in photography and the dark room. He had taken courses at Longview Community College as well, excelling at english and writing. He had plans to return to college in the spring of 2017, and looked forward to a career in psychology. He was particularly interested in working with clients struggling with substance abuse and addictive behavioral disorders.

Eric has held multiple jobs over the years, but has stayed in the fields he was most passionate for: animal care, ink technician and cooking. He worked in all aspects of animal care from kennels, to grooming, to vet technician. He also took a certificate course in dog training which included hands on work experience at a local training facility. Eric was an ink technician for several years at a printing company. With his artistic background and practical training, he had an uncanny knack with colors and could tell what inks were mixed to make a specific custom color, just by looking at it. Eric's passion for cooking drove him to always try new and different things. He was quite good at most anything he tried in the kitchen, but would tell you his specialty was on the grill.

Eric was an avid reader all of his life. The more fantastical and macabre, the better. Some of his favorite authors were Stephen King, George R. R. Martin, Cressida Cowell, and of course, JK Rowling. Harry Potter was one of his all-time favorite series. He shared this passion with his Goddaughter, Rebekkah. Eric had many favorite stories and characters like Dr. Who, Star Wars and The Walking Dead. However, his most prized possession, was his extensive collection of all things Dragon. His love for the Dragon began at a very young age and never wavered. This was a passion he passed on to the pride and joy of his life, his nephew Sam. He would take Sam dragon hunting for his birthday and Christmas gifts, a game he designed that was as much fun for him as it was for Sam.

Let us not forget football. This was the one sport he would schedule his life around. Go CHIEFS!

Eric was very outspoken in his beliefs, and would go to the mat for any person or cause he felt strongly about. He was also full of compassion for people, and would help out those in need in any way he could. He spent many hours volunteering at school vision screenings, Special Olympics, and Hope Network Angel Tree events. Eric was always just a phone call away for his friends and family, whether they needed his strength, his knowledge, or just his broad shoulders to cry on. Even with his human faults, that is one Varner family trait that has held true, generation to generation.

Sadly, Eric was taken from us much too soon. He suffered a heart attack, at his home, and entered into rest on November 14, 2016.

Eric was survived by his parents, William and Truddi Varner, of the home; his sister and brother-in-law, Lorraine (Lorrie) and Lee Zebel and nephew Samuel, of Belton; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and beloved friends.

It was Eric's wish to be cremated. A memorial will be held on Friday, November 18. Visitation will be at 2:00pm, and service to follow at 3:00pm, at Mount Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Missouri, 64131. Interment will be held privately, at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 6900 College Boulevard, Suite 250, Overland Park, Kansas 66211.

Arrangements under the direction of Mt Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, Kansas City, MO.