Fannie Lou Orrell, 78, of Portsmouth, passed away on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus. Fannie was born March 22, 1946, in Pikeville, KY, a daughter of the late William Cecil and Pearlie Sweeney Varner.
A 1964 graduate of Belfry (KY) High School, Fannie loved nothing more than spending time with her beloved family.
She married Boyd Edward “Eddie” Orrell in Virginia on December 17, 1966. The couple had been married 54 years at the time of his death on August 7, 2021.
Surviving her are two sons, Boyd Edward “Skip” Orrell of Portsmouth and Danny Ray (Susan) Orrell of Minford; a brother, Dan (Sandy) Varner of Matewan, WV; a sister, Donna Hunt of Colbert, GA; three grandchildren, Chloe Marie Orrell, William Buck Carver and Brian Wade Carver; and four great-grandchildren.
Fannie was also preceded in death by a son, Michael Todd Orrell; two brothers, William “Buddy” Varner and William Cecil Varner, Jr.; and four sisters, Thelma L. Smith, Shirley M. Gooslin, Lois J. Dotson and Betty S. Boyd.
Funeral services will be held at 1 P.M. on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at the Ralph F. Scott Funeral Home in Portsmouth with Dennis Dawes, Minister, officiating and interment in Memorial Burial Park.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 11 A.M. until the funeral hour on Tuesday.
Memorial contributions may be made to Sierra’s Haven, 80 Easter Dr., Portsmouth, OH 45662.