Wayman Eugene Varvil

In conclusion to a long, rich, and beautiful life, Wayman Varvil died peacefully at his home of 62 years on September 6, 2025, at the age of 93. His family loved him fiercely, and anyone fortunate enough to know him knew him to be kind, generous, and just plain delightful. He was playful and always ready with a joke, a master of puns with a face frequently lit by a smile. Yet beneath his playfulness was a steady strength of character and a deep well of love that anchored his family in good times and bad.

His deep devotion to his family endured throughout his life. He was married 45 years to his beloved wife, Patricia, whom we all lost too soon nearly thirty years ago. He was the most wonderful father, grandfather, uncle, and great-grandfather that any kid could hope for. He faithfully cared for his own parents throughout their lives, as well. We will be forever grateful for the love and joy he brought to us, and for the wonderful example he gave us of how to be a kind and decent human being. We will miss him always.

Wayman Eugene Varvil was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on May 4, 1932, to Mary Louise Orcutt and Eugene Joseph Varvil. He was the second of four children. Wayman was a mischievous and fun-loving guy from the start. At age 6 he developed a lung problem that would follow him throughout his life, but he never let it stop him from being an active and adventurous person. Later in life he loved to tell stories of his youthful escapades, and his family was not surprised to learn recently that he won a school storytelling contest at age 12. He was resourceful and taught himself the skills that eventually helped him succeed in life. At age 15 he bought a broken-down 1929 Ford Model A from a neighbor’s yard after working all summer to earn the $75 they wanted for it. He figured out how to get it going and got his first job delivering papers. He loved to tell people that he drove the coolest car at his school, way better than the teachers’ cars. Even the principal was jealous, as Wayman told it.

Wayman met his beautiful Patricia in the late 1940s. He saw her walking and offered her a ride to school in his car, and that was it for them, for the rest of their lives. In 1950, they eloped. Their first daughter, Cheri, was born the next year. A second daughter, Laurie, was born soon after, but very sadly died in an accident before she was two. Wayman and Patricia were each other’s refuge and strength in that terribly difficult time. They later welcomed two more daughters, Jeanene and Cindy. Over the years they also had horses, ponies, dogs, cats, and at least one rabbit join the family.

A self-made man, Wayman was a farmer and an excellent self-taught carpenter. He built his first home at age 24 for his young family. In 1963, at age 30, he built a second home for his family in Edmond, where he and Patricia raised their family, and where he lived until his death. Wayman taught his siblings and others in his family the skill of siding application, enabling them to earn their livings, as well. He later lent his skill to building or renovating the homes of all his children, some of his siblings, and even some of his grandchildren, in all building about ten homes in his life. In later years he was primarily devoted to his farm, which was near his own parents’ farm and seemed to be his true passion. He walked miles a day on the farm, checking and feeding his cattle and planting and harvesting his wheat crops.

Wayman and Patricia eventually had seven grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, several bonus grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and other much-loved extended family. These lucky folks cherish many happy memories of him and Patricia during visits to their house or the farm. His “under duck” swing pushes from the tire swing he made were legendary, and his piggy-back rides and tree-climbing boosts were top notch.

Wayman loved nature all his life, whether it was observing blades of grass and wildflowers up close, gazing at the trees and the birds up in the sky, walking his farm and feeding his cows, or finding an interesting walk in a new place. Later in life, he traveled around the U.S. and to several other countries with his daughters and grandchildren, even hiking up mountains in both North and South America well into his 80s. He was remarkable for those things, but more so for all the quiet virtues that truly matter: his unflappable good nature, his strong work ethic, his kindness, his love, and the steadfast reliability his family could always count on.

Wayman was preceded in death by his beloved wife Patricia Ann (Bray) Varvil, daughter Laurie Denise Varvil, parents Mary Louise Orcutt and Eugene Joseph Varvil, and siblings Joyce Adams, Donna Meade, and James Varvil. He is survived by his daughters, Cheri Varvil and husband Francis Kelley of Lawrence, Kansas; Jeanene Boyd and husband Felix West of Ripley; and Cindy Wheeler and husband Craig Wheeler of Edmond. He also leaves behind his grandchildren, Jacob Boyd of Perkins; Jessica Hawk of Falmouth, Maine; Luke Boyd of Perkins; Amanda Genzer of Edmond; Karin Graves of Albany, California; Eric Graves of Lawrence, Kansas; and Katie Mayfield of Edmond; as well as their spouses and his thirteen great-grandchildren; and many other cherished family members.

Services will be held Thursday, September 11, 2025, beginning at 2:00 p.m. at the Matthews Funeral Home Chapel, 601 S. Kelly Ave., Edmond, OK 73003. Interment is to follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, 8701 Northwest Expy, Oklahoma City, OK 73162.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the OU Foundation and have Stephenson Cancer Center (SCC) listed on the memo of the check and mailed to in Wayman Varvil's name to :

The University of Oklahoma Foundation
P.O. Box 258856
Oklahoma City, OK 73125-8856