Mary Alice "Bitsy" Vardeman

Mary Alice "Bitsy" Vardeman, 90, was born January 12, 1927, in Calhoun, LA, and went to be with her Lord on Monday, January 16, 2017, at home in Shreveport, LA. Services will be held Thursday, January 19, 2017, at 11:30 a.m. at Lakeview United Methodist Church, 5550 S. Lakeshore Dr., Shreveport, LA. Officiating will be Pastor Klay Harrison. The family will receive friends Thursday, January 19, 2017, from 10:00 a.m. until service time at the church. Interment will follow at Memorial Gardens North Cemetery, Blanchard, LA. Bitsy was a long-time member of Lakeview United Methodist Church, the Circle of Friends Sunday School Class, and The Ladies Monday Prayer Group. She had a deeply rooted faith in God. Her church and Bible study were very important to her. Bitsy was the fifth of seven children born to Jake and Sallie Humble. After graduating from Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA, she taught English at Calhoun High School, and later taught elementary school in Kaiserslautern, Germany where her husband Alex, was stationed in the United States Army. After his retirement from military service, the family settled in Blanchard, LA. She furthered her education by earning a Master's Degree at Louisiana State University, Shreveport. Bitsy taught school and later became a coordinator at Pine Grove Elementary in Shreveport. Later she was a reading specialist for the State of Louisiana in Caddo Parish. Bitsy, her siblings and their families enjoyed taking vacations together, making memories and sharing stories to pass down to future generations. She loved gardening, reading and spending time with her family. Preceding Bitsy in death were her parents, Sallie and Jake Humble, husband, James Alexander Vardeman, brothers, Tom Humble and Jake Humble, sisters, Eleanor Poole and Betty Humble. Surviving Bitsy are children: Beth James of Oroville, CA, Rob Vardeman and wife Rhonda of Midland, TX, and Amy Lawler and husband Ken of Shreveport, LA; brothers, Bill Humble and Bob Humble and wife Ron; grandchildren, Emmy, Jake, Joey, Mary Lou, Eric, and Kurt; and four great-granddaughters, Rowan, Brittain, Bryn, and Liv; brother-in-law, Paul Vardeman and wife Joyce; sister-in-law, Syble Humble; and numerous nieces and nephews. Honoring Bitsy as pallbearers will be grandsons, Jake Lawler, Joey Lawler, Eric Vardeman, Farrel Verbois, and friends, Jimmy Whittington and David Lawler. The family would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Alan Borne, and the staff and caregivers at Home Instead Senior Care for their support and kindness to Bitsy. The family suggests memorials may be made to Lakeview United Methodist Church, 5550 S. Lakeshore Dr., Shreveport, LA 71119.