VARMING, Marilyn

Eastern Arizona Courier, Safford, Arizona Wednesday, January 27, 2010 Marilyn Alvidrez Varming passed away peacefully Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010, at Peppi’s House hospice in Tucson after a four-year fight against breast cancer. She was 64. More than anything Marilyn loved her family and friends. She is survived by sons Craig Garcia of Gilbert and Marc Garcia of Chandler and sister Carolyn Peace and brother Phil Alvidrez, both of Phoenix. Her husband, John Varming, died in 2005. Marilyn Varming - Born July 25, 1945, in Morenci, Marilyn grew up in Clifton. The daughter of Frank and Elewe Alvidrez, she graduated from Clifton High School in 1963 and received her teaching degree from Northern Arizona Uni-versity. She taught elementary school in Flagstaff and later sex education in the high schools there. Following their marriage in 1993, Marilyn and John enjoyed retirement by traveling in their RV. They lived for a time in Bisbee but returned to Clifton in 2003 to manage the North Clifton RV Park, a job they both loved until cancer claimed John’s life and Marilyn moved to Tucson to begin her battle against the disease. Wherever she went, Marilyn made friends and kept them. She loved people and their stories. She loved holidays and celebrated each one with her colorful outfits and brightly painted nails. She loved to read and treasured her friendship with Arizona novelist J.A. Jance. And she loved following Arizona’s sports teams, especially her beloved Diamond-backs. A week before her death, she celebrated 21 years of sobriety as a grateful member of Alcoholics Anonymous. Marilyn’s wishes were for her ashes to be buried in the family plot in Clifton and to be spread in the ocean near Pacific Beach in San Diego and in Hart Prairie in Flagstaff in the autumn when the leaves turn yellow. A celebration of her life memorial service is planned for Saturday, Jan. 30, at 1 p.m. at the Residence Inn, 5400 E. Williams Circle, Tucson. Donations in Marilyn’s memory can be made to cancer research or to Peppi’s House Hospice, 2715 N. Wyatt Dr., Tucson, AZ 85712. Marilyn fought her cancer valiantly, with dignity and courage. Her family hopes those she touched will remember her smile and her spirit and her love of life.