Truddi N. (Parker) Varner

Truddi Nadine (Parker) Varner was born on December 24, 1942. She was raised in Bethany, Missouri, with her little brother Randy. One thing she loved her whole life, were the animals that crossed her path. Her first dog, Fleabite, stole her heart, and began her lifelong career of caring for others. Truddi soon developed a deep love for all animals, and had many beloved pets in her home over the years. Truddi did have one puppy that she loved above all others: Daisy. Sadly, Daisy developed many health problems later in life, and passed away about a year ago.

Truddi graduated from Southwest High School, in Bethany, in 1960. Being a nurturer at heart, she had felt a calling into nursing for many years. With her best friend Sharon by her side, they both began St. Luke’s Nursing School that fall. During nursing school, she had met the love of her life, Bill, and they were married September 15, 1963. The two soon relocated to Leavenworth, Kansas, to begin their careers. The following year, they permanently settled in Kansas City. Truddi began working at Research Hospital in 1964. Her time there gave her invaluable experience in all areas of hospital nursing. It was during this time that she wanted to take her career in a more family friendly direction.

Truddi and Bill began growing their family in 1967 with the addition of Lorrie, then again in 1972 when Eric was born. It was important to her to be a very hands-on mom, and be able to spend the summers actually experiencing life with her family. That same year, she left the hospital setting, and became a nurse with the Belton School District. By 1978, she was ready to go back to school. She began part time at Avila University, eventually taking a leave from the school district to concentrate on her education full time. Although her intent was to return to a hospital setting, she missed the school atmosphere and the children. In 1982, she graduated Magna Cum Laude with her Bachelor of Science, and after a brief hiatus, returned to the school district that fall. 10 short years later, she would become the head nurse for the Belton School District.

Truddi was an advocate for the economically challenged families within the district. This was especially true when it came to programs to aid in their health and education. She spearheaded many programs, like the Severe Behavioral Disorder Program and Belton Dental Healthcare Initiative, for which she received The Advocacy Award. She was also super proud of the preschool she helped launch in 2000, to assist students and faculty with their childcare needs, while providing the students, who were running the program, an education in real time, which they may not have received otherwise. She got to be the resident “Grandma” and “Mrs. Clause” for the center for the last seven years that she was with the district. Truddi eventually excelled to become the Supervisor of Health Services for the entire district, a position she would hold until her retirement in 2007.

The final chapters in her life were fulfilled with making memories with her family, including her grandson Sam, who was the light of her life. She was also very crafty, and spent 30 years heavily involved in crocheting and quilting, including numerous annual quilting retreats and shows. She was also an avid reader, all of her life. Truddi was intrigued by many topics, but self-help, spiritual studies, and crime novels were on the top of her passion lists. Truddi also had a few extensive collections, such as her red glass and Willow Tree figurines.

The most memorable thing about Truddi, which runs consistently through her family, was her compassion for others, humans and animals alike. If you knew her, you knew she was always just a phone call away for her friends and family, whether they needed her strength, her wisdom, or just a friend to listen. That is one Varner family trait that has held true, generation to generation.

Sadly, Truddi was taken from us much too soon. She passed peacefully in her sleep on February 13, 2023.

Truddi was preceded in death by her children, Susan Lynnette (1969), Jeffrey Allen (1970) and Eric Stephen (2016), of the home; and her sister-in-law, Jane Owens, of Olathe, KS. She was survived by her husband, William Varner, of the home; daughter and son-in-law, Lorraine (Lorrie) and Lee Zebel and grandson Samuel, of Belton; brother, Randy Parker, of Kansas City, MO; sister-in-law, Jackie Varner, of Odessa, MO; brothers-in-law, James Varner (Kathy), of Independence, MO; and Rick Varner (Cindy), of Nevada, MO; and numerous other beloved nieces, nephews, honorary children and grandchildren, family and friends.

It was Truddi's wish to be cremated. A memorial will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2023.Visitation will be at 1:00pm, and service to follow at 2:00pm, at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO, 64131. Interment will be held privately.

Condolences for the family may be left on this site, as well as on Truddi’s Facebook Page. A slideshow of visual memories can be found at: https://youtu.be/Fm9heakyffU (find a direct link below).