Clayton John Varney
1922 – 2009
AUBURN — Clayton John Varney, 87, of Phillips died peacefully at the Hospice House on Nov. 26. His health had deteriorated after a stroke suffered four months prior to his death.
He was born Feb. 26, 1922, in Skowhegan, to Everett Earle and Grace R. (Stuart) Varney. Drafted into the U.S. Army upon graduation from Edward Little High School in 1941, he trained as a machine gunner. In an accident in which his weapon jammed and exploded he was injured and sustained a permanent hearing loss.
After receiving an honorable medical discharge, he worked at the South Portland Naval Shipyard as a burner. He was always proud of the up to date techniques they were using at that facility. When he transferred to the Brooklyn, N.Y., Navy Shipyard, he was asked to train workers there in these procedures.
In 1944, he married his high school sweetheart, Irene Margaret Hodsdon of Auburn. Moving to Strong to be near relatives, he began his 18 year career at the Forster Manufacturing Co., at times having 100 people under his direction.
The company manufactured wooden toothpicks, tongue depressors and eventually plastic spoons. He completed courses in plastics manufacturing as well as courses in management, graduating from the International Correspondence School. He later worked for the Diamond National Corporation in Dixfield. His final position was supervisor of buildings and grounds at the University of Maine at Farmington.
He was committed member of the Congregational Church in Phillips for many years and also active in the Masons. He rose to the position of past master at Mount Blue Lodge No. 67.
He loved being outdoors; in school he was on the track, football and ski jumping teams. Later on he found pleasure in fishing, hunting, biking and hiking. Urged on by his daughters, he took up alpine skiing, and climbed many of the mountains in western Maine. He also enjoyed traveling, especially his trip to England with his wife.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Irene of Phillips; his daughters, Sandra MacMahon and her husband, James, of Scarborough, Pamela Smart and her husband, Robert, of DoverFoxcroft, Robin Bundick and her husband, James, of Grand Bay, Ala.; a grandson, Sean Smart of Portland; a niece, Rebecca Malcolm and her husband, Donald, of Roanoke Rapids, N.C.; and grandnieces, Stephanie Whitehead and Julie Reinhart.
He was predeceased by his parents; his half brother, Casper Stuart; his brother, Earle Varney; and an infant sister, Ruth.