Charles Leonard Varty

Charles “Chuck” Varty, 66, Rison, AR, passed peacefully on Friday, September 5, 2025.  He is survived by his loving wife, Norma, whom he has been with for 27 years; his children: Natasha (Mike) Brown, Ryan (Helma), Justin (Lea); grandchildren: Naira, Luana, Naila, Kiera, Evelynn and bonus grandchildren Sierra, Wolf and William; siblings: Lonna (Rob) Browne, Sandon (Sheila), Vegas (Johnna), Austin (Jennifer), Dallas (Carrie) and a host of additional relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, Alvin “Buzz” and June Varty and son Daniel. Born in Danville, Illinois, he was raised in North Dakota in and around the Minot/Glenburn area. He was of Catholic faith, an altar boy and graduated from Glenburn HS. Those early beginnings instilled within him the values he would keep the rest of his life. An eventful summer during high school found him traveling with a group combining grain all the way down into Oklahoma. After graduation jobs included work at the local grain elevator. He married Deb Votava and that union brought about four children.

After a divorce he began work with a contractor demoing and rehabbing housing on multiple Air Force Bases in the eastern and southern regions of the United States. In 1998 those travels led him to meet the lady that would become his rock and he hers, forming a bond that would never break. Working with Jacobs Field Engineering they traveled and worked (he as a millwright) on major construction projects, with a shut down thrown in from time to time making new friends and visiting many amazing places along the way; until fate brought them to Arkansas where they placed roots in the Herbine community in 2007. After various projects away and then locally at Evergreen Paper with Turner Ind., he spent the final 12 years of his career working as a maintenance millwright at the now owned American Kraft Paper.

The last year saw him busy working on his antique truck, along with projects he had planned in and around the home, as he was constantly dreaming up new ideas. He was a truly simple, kind hearted man who was always ready to pitch in and help those that asked. Being a volunteer firefighter for the Pansy VFD for years was something he was very proud of. He loved his family, working with his hands, grilling, fishing, NASCAR, Harleys, watching old westerns, Mash, car build shows and spending time with his beloved horse Goose.

Chuck will be greatly missed but he left behind some amazing and funny memories for those who cared deeply about him to share. Visitation at 1:00 pm and services at 2:00 pm will be held September 13, 2025, at the Buie & Cole Funeral Home in Rison, AR with burial at Prosperity Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations are requested to be made to Pansy VFD or his chosen charity St. Jude’s.

“The family extends its sincere gratitude to the dedicated doctors, nurses, and staff whose kindness and professional care made a difficult time more bearable”