Funeral services for Terry D. Varnell, 87, of Rogers, NM will be held at 2:00 PM, Sat., Sept. 3, 2022 at the Dora Baptist Church with Rev. Ben Pritchett officiating assisted by Rev. Wesley McAfee.  Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery with Garrett Stockton, Cody Varnell, Jacob Swenson, Chase Varnell, Broxton Varnell and Marcus Zuniga serving as pallbearers.  All of his numerous friends along with the caregivers that helped him so much will be honorary pallbearers.  Those desiring to make memorial contributions may send them to the Dora Baptist Church in his memory, or to the New Mexico Baptist Children’s Home, PO Box 629, Portales, NM 88130.

Terry Daniel Varnell was born May 3, 1935 in Abilene, TX.  Even though he was born in Abilene, the family home was actually in the Rogers community, and was soon brought home to grow up on the family farm.  Terry was a 1953 graduate of Rogers High School.  Following graduation, he attended New Mexico State University where he graduated in 1958, with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture.  While in college, he was married to Annie Jean Miller in June of 1957.  The couple eventually had a son and two daughters together, but later divorced.  On Aug. 10, 1979, he was married to Jimmie Lou Stockton, and acquired two additional sons.

Following completion of his degree, Terry taught Ag for one year in House, NM, but soon realized teaching was not for him. So, he returned to Rogers to rejoin the family dairy and farm. Rogers remained his home for the rest of his life. In addition to farming, Terry raised some cattle, and pursued several other things as well. In 1972 he became a substitute Rural Mail Carrier, but eventually assumed the post full time, retiring in 1997. In 1986, he along with other family members built a grain elevator in Rogers, and late acquired the elevator in Goodland, TX. Terry, being the friendly and outgoing gentleman that he was, went basically door to door, visiting and encouraging local farmers to use his elevator rather drive to Portales. He was always customer oriented and consequently a very successful businessman. Terry sold the elevator in about 2010, and officially retired, but as recently as only a few months ago, he could be seen driving his tractor. He also served for several years on the Roosevelt County Electric Coop Board.

He was a devoted member of the Dora Baptist Church.  For several years he traded valuable coins.  He and Jimmie Lou loved playing card games, and were frequently in the homes of neighbors, or the neighbors were at their home.  Whenever they had company, Terry enjoyed grilling for his guests.  He always enjoyed going to a casino, where his favorite game was Blackjack.  He hardly ever missed a Dora sporting event, even long after he no longer had grandchildren in attendance.  He was named as the Pioneer of the Year for the Rogers Community for 2022, but was unable to attend the ceremony.

Terry’s greatest love and “hobby” was his beloved family.  He kept up with everyone’s activities and situations, and shared in their lives.  When Jimmie Lou was no longer able to keep up with those things, he became the “backbone” of the family.

He is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, Dale and Judy Varnell of Portales and Bill and September Stockton of Tatum, NM; his daughters and sons-in-law, Rae Etta and Mario Zuniga of Los Lunas, NM and Connie and Mike Ferguson of Rogers, NM; nine grandchildren, Cody Dale (Ashley) Varnell, Amber Dawn Varnell, Tori (Jacob) Swenson, Andrew “Chase” Varnell, Terri Lynn (Adam) Zuniga, Marcus Daniel Zuniga, Tina Suzanne Zuniga, Savannah Brooke Stockton, and William “Garrett” (Jessie) Stockton; three step-grandchildren, Jeremy (Sheila) Southern, Mandi (Phillip) Encinias and Ashley (Chris) Sisneros; four great-grandchildren, Saylor Varnell, Broxton Varnell, Bowen Varnell and William Krew Stockton; two sisters-in-law, Kay Varnell of Alamogordo, NM and Ecki Stroud of Portales; and three nieces, Dawnette (Kenny) Cress, Heidi (Ray) Valle and Kerri Sue (Kenny) Smith; and a nephew, Derrick (Cara) Varnell.  He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Johnny Mack Varnell, who died in 2016, a son, Ronnie Stockton, who died in 1998, and by his beloved wife, Jimmie Lou, who died August 14, 2022.

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