Rae Varner

Rae B. Varner passed away peacefully on September 16, 2024, at the Hope Health Hospice in Providence, RI., with her husband, Marcus, of 40 years at her side.

She lived one year in Bristol, RI and the past 39 years in Middletown, RI.

Frances Rae Blickenstaff was born March 21,1946 in Susanville, CA. In her early years she moved with her father, (military) Clarence A. Blickenstaff, and mother, Harriet A. Martin, (maiden name) to Colorado, Germany, and to Mountain Home, ID where she attended school.

She graduated from Mountain Home High School in 1964.

Rae has an older brother Clarence A. Blickenstaff Jr "Art" now retired and residing in Sahuarita, Arizona, two younger brothers, Glenn Blickenstaff of Cascade, ID, Tom E. Blickenstaff of Phoenix, AZ. Brother LeRoy L. Blickenstaff (deceased), sister Susie Blickenstaff (deceased) and half-brother Donald F. Nichols (deceased).

Rae moved to California and attended a beautician school and worked as a beautician in California for several years. Later she decided to get into the computer field and trained as a System Analyst and worked for NCR, while her first husband served in the military. They eventually divorced.

Rae moved in with her father in Boise, ID. and in April 1984, she and Marcus Varner met in Boise, had one date, and after many telephone conversations over a six-week period, she moved to Rhode Island and married Marcus on May 25, 1984, at the Barrington Baptist Church.

After arriving in Rhode Island Rae began working for an accounting firm as the data processing/system manager for 13 plus years. In between long-term jobs, she worked independently for a boat insurance adjuster. She also worked for a computer store setting up computers, and independently did bookkeeping for a small firm.

Rae enjoyed mastering logic puzzles, working on her family history, knitting, crocheting and cooking. She had a unique and joyful sense of humor and will continue to be loved and missed by all.