Obituary: Thomas Vardeman

Princeton - Thomas Dwayne "Shorty" Vardeman passed away at his home on December 25, 2023, at the age of 82. He is survived by his wife of more than 62 years, Karen (Slaten) Vardeman.

Shorty was born in Portales, NM on August 25, 1941, to Clyde Blount and Anna Fred (Ragland) Vardeman. Shorty met Karen in high school in Portales, married in August 1961 and both graduated from Eastern New Mexico University.

After graduation from ENMU, Shorty and Karen moved to the Dallas area where he started his career in the insurance industry and eventually had two children Leslie and Cody Vardeman.

Shorty and his family moved back to Portales in 1982 where he owned and operated a local dry-cleaning business. Apart from his family, the things he most enjoyed were reading books, watching his beloved Dallas Cowboys, and spending time on the golf course with family and friends. After retiring in 2006, he and Karen relocated to Dallas to be closer to their two children and four busy grandchildren. Over the years, they enjoyed attending various events such as school assemblies, sports games, birthday parties, and other activities that involved their grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Charles Kenneth Vardeman, his brother-in-law, Abner "Wayne" Cribbs, and his sister Clydene Cribbs. He is survived by his wife Karen of their home in Princeton, TX, children Leslie (Kent) Gilbert, Cody (Deanna) Vardeman, four grandchildren: Noah and Olivia Gilbert, and Conner and Dylan Vardeman, his brother and sister-in-law Jimmy and Phyllis Vardeman.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Kidney Foundation.