Frederick Lale Varnado

October 5, 1927 - July 24, 2011

Frederick Lale Varnado was born October 5, 1927 to Lale Varnado and Minnie D. Barksdale Varnado in Gulfport, MS. He grew up in Amite, LA and graduated high school Valedictorian of his c1ass. He was given the opportunity to go to West Point, but chose LSU in Baton Rouge, LA. Fred married Patsy Jean Williams of Port Arthur, TX in 1946. He was drafted into the US Army and served during the latter part of WW II and was then called back to duty during the Korean conflict. He also attended Lamar College in Beaumont and graduated with Honors from the University of Texas, Austin with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1954 where he was also elected member of Beta Gamma Sigma. Fred was hired by Arthur Anderson CPA fIrm in Houston as part of the Tax and Audit team. He accepted a position as Cost Supervisor for Texas US Chemical and moved to Nederland with wife Patsy and daughters Debra Susan and Ashlea Dianne. Daughter Kimberly Anne came along in 1959 to complete the family. He was then hired by Calcasieu Paper Co in Elizabeth, LA as Plant Accountant. Celanese Chemical hired him as a Division Controller in Pampa, TX and then promoted him to Plant Manager and transfered him to the plant in Bishop-Kingsville, TX. From there Fred was hired by Whittaker Corp as Divisional Treasurer and moved to El Campo, TX. He was a member of the Industry Advisory Council for the Houston Intercontinental Airport (now Bush) and was present at the opening ceremony. Fred was offered the position as Division Controller for the lighting division of the New York based Keene Corp. in Memphis, TN. He was later promoted to Division President of Keene Corp. heading the Croydon, England, Greeneville, TN and La Grange, GA installations. Fred became interested in politics while living in Pampa, TX where he was taught how to detect voting fraud by the FBI. He continued his political interest in Tennessee and was proud to help elect the first Republican Governor since Reconstruction times. He retired from Industry and returned to Jefferson County in 1982 to be closer to his ailing mother-in-law, Gladys Williams. He opened a bookkeeping and tax practice and passed the CPA exam in 1985 (in one sitting) at the age of 57. He maintained his CPA practice in Nederland, TX until he retired due to eye problems in 2000. Among his many memberships and awards throughout his life, he was active in the American Legion, the Lions Club, the Masonic Lodge #3 in Greeneville, TN and was a member of Methodist Temple in Nederland, TX. He was also a member of Mensa. He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Virginia Stout, his nephew, Robert Earl Johnston, and his eldest daughter, Debra Susan Farmacka. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Pat Varnado of Nederland, TX, sister Margaret Ann Johnston and husband Earl of Denham Springs, LA, daughters Ashlea V. Spain of Milan, TN and Kimberly V. Francom and husband Allen of Austin, TX. He is also survived by granddaughters Sandra Gail Farmacka Leal and husband, Marco of Round Rock, TX, Ashlea Michelle Robinson and husband William of Atwood, TN, grandsons Michael Athan Holloway, Jr. and wife Angie of OakfIeld, TN, Jeffrey Lale Holloway of Milan, TN, Frederick Anthony Mitchell and Sean Allen Mitchell, of Houston, TX. He is also survived by 6 great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family is asking donations be made to Harbor House Hospice in Beaumont, TX who so mercifully, respectfully and gracefully helped Fred's transition from this life to the next. Their kindness and devotion to the dying and their families is most appreciated.