Mary Elizabeth Varnum

	Mary Elizabeth Varnum, age 87, of Zeigler, died on Sunday, August 24, 2003 in the Jonesboro Healthcare Center in Jonesboro at 10:50 a.m.
	Mary was born in Tamaroa on may 27, 1916, the daughter of Thomas and Daisy (Provart) Pierce.  She married Lawrence Varnum on October 17, 1934 in Pinckneyville and he survives.
	Survivors include her husband Lawrence of Jonesboro Healthcare Center; a daughter, Maxine Williamson and husband Jerry of Olmstead; three grandchildren, Susan Corey and husband Mark of Clinton Township, Mich., Jeff Hankla and Gordon Hankla, both of Carbondale;  two step-grandchildren, Laurie Batignani of East Windsor, Conn.  and Steven Williamson of Enfield, Conn. and three great-grandchildren, Megan and Lindsey Corey and Emily Hankla.
	She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Carrie Pierce; two brothers, Byford and Daniel Pierce and a grandson, Mark Lawrence.
	Funeral services were held at the Pyatt-Harrawood & Epplin Funeral Home in Du Quoin on Friday, August 29, 2003 at 1:30 p.m. with Pastor Everett Freeman officiating.  Interment was in the Paradise Cemetery near Tamaroa.
	Visitation was held at the Pyatt-Harrawood & Epplin Funeral Home in Du Quoin on Thursday, August 28, 2003 from 6 until 9 p.m. and on Friday, August 29 from 8 a.m. until services.
