Jean Vaughan Varney

Jean Varney died on Saturday, January 11, 2025 in Potomac Falls, VA. She was born in Chicago, IL to Edith K. and Stuart L. Vaughan, MD, PhD, but raised in Buffalo, NY. She was a graduate of The Buffalo Seminary and Middlebury College where she met classmate Jack E. Varney whom she married in 1953 following his commissioning from the Navy Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI.

Jack's duty stations were primarily along the west coast and Hawaii. Returning east to the Washington, DC area, they settled in Mt. Vernon, VA on land that was once George Washington's #1 pig farm. They were active members of the Mt. Vernon Yacht Club, racing their sailboat, Fat City, and amassing several trophies.

Jean later moved to Old Town Alexandria, VA where she pursued a successful real estate career before retiring in 2010 at age 80. She was a longtime member of The Old Presbyterian Meeting House, The TWIG (an auxiliary of Inova Alexandria Hospital), The Old Town Alexandria Walled Garden Club, Civic Association and other local organizations before making one last move, her 19th, to Falcons Landing in 2014.

In addition to volunteer work, particularly in hospitals starting as a Grey Lady in her teens, she enjoyed gardening, knitting, reading, crossword puzzling, antiquing and traveling which she did extensively.

She is survived by three children, Mark Varney of San Francisco, CA, Jay S. Varney of Cardiff, CA and Susan V. Paxton (John) of Potomac Falls, VA; grandsons, Jack and Sam Paxton; a brother, sister and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life, with a reception to follow, will be held at Falcons Landing at a later date.