JOHN ARTHUR FARRELL

An incredible son of God, John Arthur Farrell Sr., was born of earthly parents, Henry Ward Farrell and Alexandria Mabel King-Farrell, October 10, 1919. "Art" was the third son of four rambunctious boys growing up on a farm in Madras, Oregon. His Brothers Phillip, William and Keith preceded him in death, along with his parents and two of his children, Darrell Ward Farrell and Elizabeth Kay Farrell.

On May 12, 1947 he married Leotta Cathren Booth and settled in on a portion of the Farrell Family homestead farm in Madras Oregon raising their five children. The three that survive him are Sandra Lee Coffman (Harry Daniel) Tillamook, Oregon, Martha Rae Farwell (Bruce Phillip) Pasco and John Arthur Farrell Jr. Pasco. In 1955 after a failing farm economy, Dad moved his family to Pasco and took a job in a grain elevator. Then Art worked at Lott's Supply in Kennewick and then found his niche as a traveling salesman for Consolidated Supply for over 30 years. Year after year he surpassed sales records, becoming national salesman of the year, meeting and developing relationships with many customers and truly finding joy in his work. In 1968 he moved to Burbank on a five acre mini-farm where dad "homesteaded" and worked tirelessly to recreate from sagebrush and tumbleweed, a resemblance to the utopia that existed in his mind of rural living in central Oregon. Livestock, chickens, hogs, turkeys and sheep moved through the "farm" and his large garden supplied many with fresh foods over the years. He retired in 1987. After traveling the world in the Navy, Dad learned to enjoy traveling and seeing this great land and accomplished his goal of setting foot in every state of the nation. He and mom moved back into Pasco in 1994 to build up a smaller place and take his retirement more seriously. Dad found lots of time to work in his wood shop and built 100's of birdhouses, 1,000's of tulips, whirly gigs, swings, chairs and you could probably just imagination his artistic abilities. Soon hundreds of homes would be known to have pieces of "Art " in their yards and homes as he so enjoyed giving them away and then getting the feeling of sharing, that he loved so much.

His social skills were further exercised as Art and Leotta decided to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Days saints in 1996. Art was called to be the Ward Greeter in which he thoroughly enjoyed and found it easy to excel at. He remained faithful through yet another move to T-C Retirement home in February of 2010. Then he was back to his most prized possessions of friends and working on relationships with each. There, he was indeed a social butterfly and model citizen and conjured up nicknames for many like hot lips, tinker bell, harmonica, and pisqually. Dominoes, bingo, pinochle were always in play and Dad found the time to really listen and learn of others' lives. His eyes would twinkle when he could spend even a moment in time in thoughts of his 14 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren or those in the process of having or planning further posterity. His last 4 months were spent in the care of Desert Haven Care Facility where found peace and rest to his soul.

Art was a genuine man, an original creation loved by his Father in Heaven and adored by those that were privileged to feel of his gentle spirit. He liked to mention often that one must take the bitter and the sweet in their lives. He understood that principle and chose to hold close to his heart, the sweet. He would often said the key to life was PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) that he lived up to and even though at times he too drank from a bitter cup, he did not shrink. He remained who he was and each person that was blessed to enter into his room in his last days were able to feel of his warm and inviting spirit and know that all will be well.

A memorial Service will be held for Family & Friends by RSVP Dinner @1:00 April 12th, 2014.

Call Sandy @ 1-831-207-6664 or coffmansare@gmail.com or John @ 509-521-5646.