Stephanie Lynn "Stacie" Varner

1967 - 2017

Stephanie "Stacie" Lynn (Stringer) Varner was born on September 12, 1967, at Fort Polk, Louisiana. She died peacefully at home in Juneau, Alaska, on November 17, 2017. She is survived by her three daughters, Chloe Madison, Olivia Claire, and Gracie Camille; her mother Pat Stringer; her brother Scott and his daughters Ashlie and Elane; her brother Jesse and his wife Libby; aunts, uncles, cousins, and a host of friends. She was preceded in death by her beloved father Jimmie, a sister Sarah, and grandparents Wallis and Flois Stringer, James and Charlene Teague.

At seven years of age, Stacie accepted Jesus as her Savior. At 12 years, she moved with her family from Post, Texas, to serve as missionaries with First Baptist Church of Juneau. She attended Bethel Christian School and then Juneau-Douglas High School, graduating in 1986, with honors in culinary arts and interior design. She attended Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, and took classes at Weatherford College. She married Rick Varner in Weatherford, Texas on May 5, 1990. Stacie worked for General Dynamics in Fort Worth, Texas, on the A-12 stealth bomber program. She later went to work for State Farm Insurance. In 1991 they moved to Juneau, Alaska.

Her greatest joy was her three daughters and she invested countless hours creating fun events and activities for them. She embraced everything Alaskan including skiing, outdoor living, hiking, camping, sledding, exploring ice caves, watching the Northern Lights, and mushing. One winter, her family spent half a day creating an igloo. She loved music of all kinds and could play several instruments.

In 2001 she made her first glacier silt soap and applied for a patent which was granted in 2004. Together with her husband and parents, Glacier Smoothie Soaps LLC was formed and has been operating since. Part-time and summer college workers soon became adopted family members. Among other awards, Stacie was presented a 15-year plaque from the Handcrafted Soap & Cosmetic Guild last year. Thousands of her creation have been sent to countries all over the world via the internet and sold to cruise ship passengers each summer from the downtown shop.

Stacie loved God. She loved her girls and family. She loved her friends. She loved Alaska. She had a contagious joy for life and, because of that, a thanks-living party was held immediately following her memorial service on Saturday, November 26, at 11:00 am, at First Baptist Church on Twin Lakes.

The family would appreciate your memories of Stacie being shared at www.legacyalaska.com. A fund for the Varner Girls has been established at First National Bank of Alaska, 840 West 10th Street, Juneau, AK 99802, c/o Lizabeth or Jesse Stringer.