Varming, Marilyn Alvidrez

Marilyn Alvidrez Varming passed away peacefully Saturday, 
January 16, 2010 at Peppi's House hospice in Tucson after a four-
year fight against breast cancer. She was 64. More than anything 
Marilyn loved her family and friends. She is survived by sons, 
Craig Garcia of Gilbert and Marc Garcia of Chandler and sister, 
Carolyn Peace and brother, Phil Alvidrez, both of Phoenix. Her 
husband, John Varming died in 2005. Born July 25, 1945 in 
Morenci, Arizona, Marilyn grew up in Clifton. The daughter of 
Frank and Elewe Alvidrez, she graduated from Clifton High School 
in 1963 and received her teaching degree from Northern Arizona 
University. She taught elementary school in Flagstaff and later sex 
education in the high schools there. Following their marriage in 
1993, Marilyn and John enjoyed retirement by traveling in their 
RV. They lived for a time in Bisbee, but returned to Clifton in 
2003 to manage the North Clifton RV Park, a job they both loved 
until cancer claimed John's life and Marilyn moved to Tucson to 
begin her battle against the disease. Wherever she went, Marilyn 
made friends and kept them. She loved people and their stories. 
She loved holidays and celebrated each one with her colorful 
outfits and brightly painted nails. She loved to read and treasured 
her friendship with Arizona novelist J.A. Jance. And she loved 
following Arizona's sports teams, especially her beloved 
Diamondbacks. A week before her death she celebrated 21 years 
of sobriety as a grateful member of Alcoholic Anonymous. 
Marilyn's wishes were for her ashes to be buried in the family plot 
in Clifton and to be spread in the ocean near Pacific Beach in San 
Diego and in Hart Prairie in Flagstaff in the autumn when the 
leaves turn yellow. A Celebration of her life Memorial Service is 
pending. Donations in Marilyn's memory can be made to cancer 
research or to Peppi's House Hospice, 2715 N. Wyatt Dr., Tucson, 
AZ 85712. Marilyn fought her cancer valiantly, with dignity and 
courage. Her family hopes those she touched will remember her 
smile and her spirit and her love of life.

Published in the Tucson Newspapers on January 20, 2010