Ila Ellen Farmer

Waynesville, Ila Brooks Farmer, age 93, passed away on Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at Haywood Regional Medical Center. She had currently resided at Haywood Lodge and Retirement Center where she has been for the last three years after a period of declining health. Born April 10, 1916, she was a native and life long resident of Haywood County, and the daughter of the late Phillip and Nora Smathers Brooks. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Fred Farmer, who died in 1976; five brothers, Edwin, Robert, Elmer, Ernest, and Roy Brooks; two sisters, Florence Warren and Grace Hendricks; and a son-in-law, Oliver Early. She retired from Wellco Shoe Corporation with 35 years service and was a faithful member of Allens Creek Baptist Church. She was the last charter member of the Woman's Missionary Union and was truly a missionary in her community, always sharing her delicious sourdough bread and homemade jelly with the sick, bereaved, and all her many friends. She taught the Ladies No. 2 Sunday-School Class for many years and continued to be a member even after her health began to fail.She is survived by her daughters, Betty Farmer Early and Winnie Farmer Pressley and her husband, Roy; three grandsons, Terry Pressley and his wife, Debbie, Jerry Pressley and his wife, Helen, and Dennis Early and his wife, Cindy, all of Waynesville; six great-grandsons, Joey, Daniel, Nicholas, Matthew, and Johnny Pressley, and Seth Early; six great granddaughters, Ella Reid, Susan Fowler, Heather Phillips, Hannah Early, and Angel and Annie Pressley; one great-great granddaughter, Lindsey Pressley; and one great-great grandson, Braxton Early; one brother, Eugene Brooks and his wife, Juanita; special friends of the family, Carolyn Medford, Doris Muse; and nieces and nephews and many close friends.Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, June 19, 2009 at Allens Creek Baptist Church with Reverend Eddie Deitz and Reverend Lloyd Fish officiating. Interment will follow at Green Hill Cemetery. Great grandsons will serve as pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Thursday, June 18, 2009 at Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville. Memorials may be made to Allens Creek Baptist Church Building Fund, 549 Allens Creek Road, Waynesville, NC 28786.