Merrill A. Varner, 91, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017. He is survived by his wife, Joyce Varner; a son, Terry Varner of Memphis, Tenn.; a granddaughter Camille; a great-granddaughter Ariana; two step-sons, Roland Hamilton of Locust Grove, Va. and Michael Hamilton of Cabot, Ark.; two step-daughters, Louann Hamilton of McCrory, Arkansas and Merriam Calliham of Brighton, Tenn.; six step grandchildren and three step great-grandchildren. He also had three children, Marcus, Michael David and Sheila Varner who predeceased him.

The family will receive guests on Monday, Oct.9, 2017 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 North Germantown Rd., Bartlett, TN 38133. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017 at 2 p.m. at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens.

Merrill grew up in Taylor, Miss. before joining the Army Air Corps. After leaving the service, he moved to Memphis, Tenn. where he joined the US Postal Service.

Merrill was a veteran of WWII serving in the Army Air Corps and served on the Kwajalein Atoll part of the Marshall Islands where the US military tested Atom Bombs. He retired from the US Postal Service as a Letter Carrier. Merrill was a Director and Board Member of the Shriners School, a member of the Musketeers and was active in other service organizations. He was an active member of First Baptist Church of Memphis and served as Sunday School Superintendent. One of his ministries was to visit the sick and elderly where he spent most of his Saturdays.

The family requests that memorials be made to Shrine School for children at 4259 Forrest View Dr., Memphis, TN 38118.