Celebration of Life Funeral Services for Farris Gray, age 87, of Bedford Iowa, who passed away in Maryville, Missouri January 24, 2018, were held Saturday, January 27, 2018 at the Bedford United Methodist Church. Visitation was held at the Cummings Family Funeral Home on Friday, January 26, 2018 from 3 to 7 PM. Interment with military rites was held at the Hopkins Cemetery. Memorials may be directed towards The Bedford United Methodist Church, The Taylor County Museum or SSM Health Hospice Services. Cummings Family Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements for Mr. Gray. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.cummingsfamilyfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
Everell Farris Gray was born on February 6, 1930 to Carl and Helen Burch Gray. Farris was born on a farm northeast of Hopkins, Missouri while his brother Donovan was at school. The attending midwife had told Donovan that he would have a baby brother or sister when he arrived home from school. Farris attended a one-room school house where his teacher suggested to his parents that he take both the first and second grade during the same year. At that time, in rural schools seventh grade and eighth grade classes were offered on an every-other-year rotation. For Farris and his other grademate, doing two years in one allowed them to take seventh grade and eighth grade in succession and to graduate from Bedford High School at 16 years of age. Farris was always interested in electricity, science and mathematics. As a high school student in route to class, Farris supported his family’s turkey farm by delivering live turkeys in burlap bags to women in Bedford who planned to serve the birds for holiday meals.
Farris attended the Wray Memorial Methodist Church in Hopkins where he met Patsy Joan Thompson at youth group. Farris asked Patsy to go for a date with him, but she refused stating she “was too young”.
As a solider in the Army, Farris served in the Korean Conflict in reconnaissance. Patsy’s mother suggested to her that she write to that “young serviceman” stationed in Korea. Through their letter exchanges a relationship developed. Farris married Patsy on March 7, 1954. He and Patsy actively were engaged in livestock and row crop farming in the Bedford area for over 50 years. Farris took care of the land, actively using conservation practices and being among the first in the area to use no-tillage methods. Because of his effective farm innovation and management, Farris was featured as a Master Farmer by Wallace’s Farmer in 1977. Several young men worked with Farris over the years, and he valued the opportunity to work side-by-side with each one.
When President Jimmy Carter was seeking to learn about agriculture in Iowa, Farris was one of seven farmers who met with President Carter during a visit to Iowa. During the farm crisis of the 1980s, Farris’ expertise was valued through his testimonies to the agriculture committee of the United States Congress in regard to the farm bill. Secretary of Agriculture Bob Berglund visited the Gray farm in 1980. For a few years, in addition to his farming interests, Farris worked as a Pesticide Investigator for the state of Iowa.
As a community member, Farris served on many boards: Rural Community Development, Southern Iowa Council of Governments, Taylor County Extension Council, Bedford Community School Board, Rural Water, Pork Producers, and numerous committees of the Bedford United Methodist Church. Most recently Farris served on the board of the Taylor County Historical Museum.
Farris and Patsy were parents to two daughters, Linda Gray Smith and Nancy Joan Langguth. Farris and Patsy also hosted an American Field Service student from South Africa, Gillian Shellard Haiden. Farris wanted his daughters to have opportunities that he did not have; he made it possible for his daughters to study music with fine teachers, participate in many aspects of the 4-H program, and obtain college degrees.
After moving to Bedford in 2002, Farris and Patsy enjoyed wintering in Tucson, Arizona. After Patsy’s death in 2011, Farris continued to spend 3 months in the warm Arizona sunshine with friends they made in the Voyager Park. Linda drove Farris to Arizona, and Nancy drove Farris home from Arizona; they became good travel companions.
Farris could be described as being humble and kind with a gentle smile. He enjoyed friends of all ages in many communities. Even before social media (which he embraced and enjoyed), Farris established a solid social network knowing how each individual connected with others. He was always interested in others, and in fact, talking with others seems to have been his hobby. He cherished the times he was able to spend with family and enjoyed watching the great -grandchildren in church and school programs.
Surviving Farris is his sister-in-law Kathyrn Gray of Excelsior Springs, MO; daughters Linda Gray Smith and husband Kenneth of Maryville, MO and Nancy Langguth and husband Brad of Iowa City, IA; grandchildren Kirk and wife Susie Smith, children Cora, Sam, and Josie of Blockton, IA; Erin Parks and son Micah of West Des Moines, IA; Erica Smith of Kansas City, MO; Kathryn and husband Bryan Swinbank of North Liberty, IA; and Anne Langguth and husband Michael Ott, sons Quincy and Ryan of Chicago, IL. Farris is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, and countless friends.
Preceding Farris in death are his wife Patsy, his parents, Carl and Helen Gray, and his brother Donovan.
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