Joseph Key Farish Jr.

FARISH - Dr. Joseph Key (Jay), Jr., of Tulsa, died Wednesday, September 5, 2007. Dr. Farish was born June 20, 1926 in Tampa, FL. He was the son of Joseph Key Farish, Sr. and Ruth Gordon Farish. He graduated from Conway High School in Conway, AR in 1944 and served in the military as an Aviation Cadet from 1944 to 1945. He attended Arkansas State Teachers College, Texas A&M and graduated from Hendrix College in 1950. He graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine in 1954. He married Ruby Galloway on the "Bride and Groom" television program, June 19, 1951 in New York City. Dr. Farish began his medical career in Virginia and Arkansas and then specialized in anesthesia, completing his residency at Ochners Clinic in New Orleans, LA. He moved to Tulsa in 1960, to practice medicine at Hillcrest Medical Center and retired in 1986. Throughout his lifetime Dr. Farish enriched the lives of his family and friends with his abiding love, devoted faith, clever wit and deep wisdom. Dr. Farish is survived by: his wife, Ruby Galloway Farish; his son, Dr. Kent Farish and his wife, Leah of Tulsa; his daughter, Rev. Jessica Moffatt Seay and her husband, Chip of Bixby, and his daughter, Rev. Karen Miller and her husband, Perry of High Point, NC; and 4 grandchildren, Brian Farish, Colleen Farish, Elizabeth Miller and Hannah Moffatt. The impact of Dr. Farish's life has taken many forms. One writer recently described one of those forms this way: "A tiny baby had been battered by a distraught parent who had lost all emotional control. Dr. J. K. Farish was part of the team who treated the baby girl at Hillcrest Medical Center in the early 1970's. At first, he was angry and indignant, but later he became filled with compassion as he started searching for a program in Tulsa for the prevention and treatment of child abuse. Soon, volunteers and experts in the Tulsa County Medical Auxiliary began developing a program called Parents Anonymous. Dr. Farish never took any credit for this program that joined others to eventually become The Parent Child Center of Tulsa. But it was his compassion and persistence that got the fire going for parenting education and the treatment and prevention of child abuse in Tulsa County." A Memorial service will be held at Boston Avenue United Methodist Church at 11a.m., Wednesday, September 12, with Dr. Mouzon Biggs officiating. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to The Parent Child Center, 1421 S. Boston, Tulsa, OK 74119 or to United Methodist Restore Hope Ministry, 2960 Charles Page Boulevard, Tulsa, OK 74107. Moore's Rosewood Chapel, 744-1202. Dr. Joseph Key (Jay) Farish, Jr. VIEW AND SIGN THE ONLINE GUEST BOOK: www.legacy.com/tulsaworld