O.E. (Skeeter) Varnado, Jr.
Farmer and rancher, O.E. Varnado, Jr. passed from this life on January 9, 2024, at home, on the same farm where he was born on June 20, 1926.
Skeeter grew up in Robeline, LA, spending time with his Stoker cousins on the DeWitt Stoker farm. After graduating from Robeline High School, he moved to Beaumont, TX, to work in a refinery. Later, he owned and operated a service station in Robeline before being called to the Army in 1947. On his return, he was a pulpwood contractor for a short time. Next, he found his calling in the oilfield. While working in the Big Island Field east of Pineville, LA, he met Jan Crews. In 1950, he was recalled to the Army for a year, and when he was discharged in 1951, he convinced Jan to leave college and to marry him on January 26, 1952. They spent 71-plus wonderful years together. They had two children: their son, Cliff, was born in 1957, and their daughter, Jana, was born in 1960.
Back in the oilfield, Skeeter quickly climbed the ladder from roughneck, to driller, to tool pusher and then to Drilling Superintendent for Milton Crow, Inc. in Shreveport, LA. In 1962, he left that company and moved back to the farm he and his father had purchased in 1950. He and Jan built their home in 1963. For four years, he worked in the Sabine Parish oilfield as his cattle numbers increased. Then he constructed broiler houses, grew soybeans, and built and operated a sawmill. In 1964, Skeeter and Jan opened a western store, the Hitchin’ Post, in Many, LA, which Jan operated (later with Jana) for 51 years. Skeeter returned to the oilfields in 1980, this time as a consultant, and worked until the late 1990s before he retired.
Skeeter was mild mannered, even tempered, witty and extremely patient. His amazing work ethic taught not only his son but many other young men the value of hard work and diverse skills. Skeeter served many years as President of the Sabine Parish Farm Bureau and was proud to be a member of First Baptist Church in Many, LA. Most importantly, Skeeter was a wonderful, generous, loving husband and father. He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.
Skeeter was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents, many aunts, uncles, cousins and brother- in-law Rodney Crews.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Jan Crews Varnado; son, Cliff Varnado and wife, Donna, of Natchitoches, LA; daughter, Jana Varnado Smith and husband, Donnie, of Many, LA, brothers-in-law Albert Crews, Jr. and wife, Jeanne, of Satellite Beach, Florida; Price Crews and wife, Joan, of Onalaska, Texas; sisters-in-law Mary Nell Murphy and husband, Mickey, of Ruston, LA, and Jo Lynn Crews of Marshall, TX; and special cousins, Alexis Petrus of Shreveport, LA, and Kermit Pharris, Jr. of Alexandria, LA.
Graveside services will be held on Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 2:00 PM at Ft. Jesup Cemetery with Bro. Bo Owens and Bro. Joel Johnson officiating. Food and fellowship to follow at Ft. Jesup Church. The family will host a Celebration of Life to be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Teen Challenge of Louisiana, The Sabine Humane Society and the First Baptist Church of Many.
