Published by Legacy Remembers on Apr. 7, 2024.
Philip Farr, age 78, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 10, 2023. He was born May 6, 1945 to Kenneth and Florence (Sundell) Farr in
Rockford, Illinois.
He was a resident of Loveland Colorado, living in the foothills of his beloved Rocky Mountains for more than twenty years. He loved sitting outside, listening to music, taking in the beauty of the nature that he loved so much. He was a Grandpa, friend, soundingboard, a shoulder to cry on, an avid reader, a life-long learner, sports fan, animal/critter savior, and video gamer. His sense of humor was one of his most loved qualities. The silly, goofy, random texts that he would send everyone almost every day is something we all looked forward to and are going to miss.
He is a war Veteran, having served a full tour in Vietnam with the U.S. Army which, like many of our veterans, left its mark on him. His sister shares;
"I will always remember my brother Philip as one of the thousands of forgotten warriors. He never got the appreciation and gratitude he deserved. He served his country in Vietnam and came home a changed man. He lived the rest of his life suffering in silence with his PTSD. I will always love him, and he will Never be forgotten by me. His sister Susie".
The war definitely affected him and he struggled with memories of his time there but he never forgot the soldiers he served with, every Memorial and Veterans Day he would have a beer for himself and have a beer sitting next to his for the soldiers who didn't make it home.
When he came home from the war he met the love of his life Patricia, and although they later divorced, they remained best of friends. Together they had 3 daughters: Kellie, Jennie, Cristina and a son, Chad.
He loved fishing and a lot of our favorite memories we have of him are when we would go fishing or living in the mountains and campgrounds, a perpetual camping trip. We all have so many good memories of those times, Chad really cherishes the fishing and time spent at a favorite lake and park, it was a bond that they shared together.
Kellie has this hilarious memory of when we were all at that pond fishing, dad thought he had a big fish on the line but it turned out to be an angry snapping turtle, she remembers dad had this funny way of running where his knees came up close to his chest, arms pumping wildly and upper body leaned back like it couldn't keep up with his legs...this is how he ran away from that snapping turtle and the memory always makes us laugh.
Tina embraces the experiences we got to have because of living where we did, like living in campgrounds and we even lived in a converted bus before it was the trendy thing to do. We got to swim in rivers, ride on sleds pulled behind 4 wheelers going down the side of a mountain. Not the smartest but definitely fun, and her funniest memory is dad hiding on the front passenger floor of the car while teaching his youngest daughter to drive with his other 3 kids laughing their butts off in the back seat because she realized she wanted to be on a different road in the campground that was on the other side of some bushes...so she drove over the bushes to get to the other side! I'm pretty sure at least one of us thought we were all gonna die that day! We also learned the value of a dollar and that it isn't material items that are important, people are.
One of Jennie's most treasured memories of dad is that he is her hero. In one of the campgrounds they lived in, a tent caught on fire with a puppy inside of it, dad ran into the burning tent and saved that puppy, he lost his eyebrows for a bit but he did save that little puppy!
Philip had the biggest, kindest, most giving, thoughtful, and generous heart. Whenever it was someone's birthday he would send out texts reminding everyone so no one got forgotten. He would give complete strangers the last of his money, even though he had so little, if they needed it; and within the last couple of years he discovered a mouse living in his home, instead of harming the mouse, he made friends with it and he named the mouse Two-Tone because he had two different colors on him. That showcases Phil's character perfectly, he was a good man.
Honoring Philip wouldn't be complete if we didn't discuss the alien...Philip was an alien, or at least that's what he tried to convince everyone of; that he was an alien from the planet Adriana. His daughter-in-law Kellie, that he loved as one of his own, shared one of her favorite, most touching memories of dad.
Kellie tragically lost her son a few years ago and it has devastated her but Phil was able to bring some light to her, this is what she shared.
"I know one thing, your dad always can put a smile on my face through the worst time of my life, his alien talk. When my son died he told me now he could have a beer with my best alien friend and they were laughing at us silly humans so I shouldn't worry".
Philip loved his family more than anything and there was no such thing as in-law, step, etc...if you were family, you were family and you were one of his.
He is preceded in passing by both of his parents, his oldest brother Kenneth M Farr, Sister-in-Law Beverly Farr, Brother-in-Law David Flynn, Nephew Randy Farr, Grandson John Knight, Great-Granddaughter Desiree Link, and Niece Kate Flynn. Survived by Patricia (Ronald) Griffith, his three daughters; Kellie Wood, Jennie (Chris) McFadden, Cristina (Charles) Alvarez, his son Chad (Kellie) Farr, his sister Susan Flynn, brother David (Anna) Farr, numerous Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren and Great-great Grandchildren, as well as many Nieces and Nephews.
Phil didn't want to have a funeral, he wanted everyone to remember the good times and be happy. His ashes will be spread by his family in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains where he was most at peace.
Philip wasn't just our father, grandpa, brother, uncle...he was our friend and we love and miss him so much! We will never forget him!
Dad, in your way of saying good-bye for now, Shalom! We love you!!!