1921 – 2014

AUBURN — Shirley Avis Prince Varney, 92, of Turner, died Thursday, Sept. 4, after the slow decline of age and Alzheimer’s at Clover Manor, Auburn.

She and her twin brother, Sherm, were born Dec. 11, 1921, to Job and Cora Irish Mitchell Prince in Turner. She graduated from Leavitt Institute, Class of ’39.

She attended Auburn Maine School of Commerce and worked for the Texaco Oil Company, Auburn.

She Married W. Sherman Varney, the son of G.W. and Etta Berry Varney, on April 6, 1946, after Mr. Varney returned from service in the Merchant Marines during World War II and working on the Varney farm with his younger brothers, Charles and George.

She was the bookkeeper for Varney Brothers Farm and later for Shermirley Farm, which she and Sherm started in 1960, moving to the old Knight farm and building new barns and building up their herd of Holsteins. She was also a 4-H leader and extension leader.

On retirement, Shirley and Sherm spent their winters in Zephyrhills, Fla., where they welcomed friends and family, taking them to Disney World and Sea World, and Busch Gardens in nearby Tampa. They played golf and enjoyed a busy social life in Gem Estates Park, returning to the farm during summers, which son, William, and grandson, Troy, then ran.

She and Sherm had four children, Susan Irene, William Sherman Jr., Valerie and Brad Elliot.

She is survived by her children and their families, Susan of Fairfield; William and wife, Vicky, and their children, Troy and wife, Dulsey, Trevor and wife, Heidi, Caleb, Sarah and Rebecca of Turner; Valerie and husband, Chuck Dunn, of Greene and their children, Jason, Josh and wife, Meghan, of Turner, and Stacey Dunn of Westbook; Brad and wife, Paula K., and their children, Sherm and wife, Donna, Earle and wife, Stephanie, and Brad Jr. Varney of Turner. She is also survived by thirteen great-grandchildren, Audrey, Shelby, Hannah, Abbie, Ethan, Averi, Hayden, Colby and Brooke Varney, Michaela and Josh Therrien, Sage and Sam Dunn; a sister, Alice Prince Briggs; and countless, nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her husband, Sherm; twin brother, Sherman Prince; her half-brothers, Rufus and Norman Prince, and Bob Mitchell; half-sisters, Muriel Ewing, Marion Rick, Edna Emerson, Frances Farr; and the only “mother” she knew after Cora died from complications of childbirth, Lulu Gray Howard of Harborside.