Mrs. P. L. Varner

At first glance, this funeral card seemed a challenge. First because she is identified as a "Mrs." Early on, in my genealogy studies, I recall Mrs. Johnson, Family History librarian, "Dee, if you are looking for a woman, find the men that surround her." Many times since her sage advise, I have returned to her words of wisdom.

Mrs. P. L. Varner, born 30 Aug 1872 and died 17 Nov 1903. Places of birth and death were not listed.

The card appears on Ebay, February 2010, with seller, Vel's Collectibles. Item location is shown as Apache Junction, Arizona. Further review of Vel's Collectibles, Vel states she owns Dotterer's Antique & Gifts in Cherokee, Oklahoma.
With possible place information, I turned to the 1900 United States Census, Arizona Territory (no results) then Oklahoma and found Lincoln Perry Varner, single. Continuing with researching Mr. Varner, discovered that his name was actually Perry Lincoln Varner. By the 1910 United States Census, he is shown as a widower. On Ancestry.com, in the Public Member Family Tree section, I found four family trees listing Perry Lincoln Varner. Of three contacts made, one response came from Suzanne Burns. She indicated that Perry Lincoln Varner married Mada Pemberton, 12 Sep 1900 in Kay County, Oklahoma.

Mystery solved. Mrs. P. L. Varner, the former Mada Pemberton.