Doris Joan Varner Sawicki Smith, 86, of Bedminster went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, August 14, 2022 with her loving children by her side.

Doris was born to her loving parents, Edith Rose Whatley Varner and Chester Butler Varner, Sr. on September 14, 1935 in Plainfield, NJ.  She had lived in Dunellen for 30 years before moving to Bedminster 10 years ago.

Doris was a 1953 graduate of Bound Brook High School and cherished her time with friends there.  She was very active in the Accordion Club.  She performed for the troops through the USO at Fort Dix and Joyce Kilmer Facility during the Korean War.  As an accomplished classical accordionist she placed second in the 16 year old division of the National Accordionist Competition in NYC.  Music was a major part of her life and she performed at many concerts and events during her lifetime.  She also sang in choir and rang handbells in her church.

Doris was a Deacon of the Presbyterian Church and a current member of the Pluckemin Presbyterian Church where she was a member of their Ladies Monday Morning Bible Study.  She was also a member of the Red Hat Society and a proud member of the Elizabeth Snyder – Continental Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.  She was an avid knitter.

Doris was a legal secretary for several law firms for over a 30 year period.

She was predeceased by her dear parents; her precious sister Beverly Ann Varner; her dear husband, the love of her life and the father of her precious children Edward Sawicki; her second husband Karl R. Smith; her son-in-law Lee Charles Kasman; and her brother John Varner.

Doris is survived by her dear children, Susan Lynn Sawicki Kasman of Bridgewater and James Edward Sawicki of Knightstown, IN; her dear grandchildren, Rose Kasman and her fiance, Dan Marshall, Kathryn Sidorenko and her husband, Pavel, Joshua Kasman, Charlie Kasman, Korey Sawicki, Austin Sawicki and his fiance, Rhiana Liesinger, Ashley Lawyer and her husband, Ed, and Kenny Ridzyowski, Jr.; and her dear great grandchildren, Sophia, Olivia and Andrew Sidorenko, Zeta Liesinger, and Amber, Aiden and Shane Lawyer.  She is also survived by her cherished brother, Chester Varner, Jr., his wife Aileen Varner, and their daughters Sandy and Heather and their families; her brother, Robert Varner; and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at the Pluckemin Presbyterian Church, 279 Route 202 – 206, Bedminster on Thursday, August 25 at 10:30am.  Interment will follow at Bound Brook Cemetery.  Relatives and friends may visit at the Layton Funeral Home, 475 Main Street, Bedminster on Wednesday, August 24 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.  In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN  38105.