J. D. Farris

J. D. Farris, 83, of Tarkington Prairie, died Saturday, December 18, 2010, at the Heritage Villa Nursing Home in Dayton. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 21, 2010, at the Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Dayton with burial following at Ryan Cemetery in Tarkington Prairie. Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday, at the funeral home. Services are under the direction of Pace-Stancil Funeral Home in Dayton. J.D. was born December 27, 1926 in Dayton, to parents; William A. “Jack” and Clara E. White Farris, and a lifelong resident of the Dayton area. He was a graduate and football player of the Dayton High School class of 1944, veteran of the Merchant Marines and Army during WW II, served on the Dayton City Council for eight years, former member of the Dayton Volunteer Fire Department and Young Farmers, and a retired salesman after employment with the Liberty Implement/John Deere and Seaberg Rice Company. J.D. lost his arm in a rice dryer accident, but never thought of himself to be handicapped. He could do anything anyone else could do and even better than most, including holding his three girls at one time. He also enjoyed hunting rabbit, squirrel, dove, and quail. Mr. Farris was preceded in death by his parents and sisters: Violet Bauerkemper, Hazel Schauer, Gwendolyn Curtis, Imogene Farris, and Jackie Garrard. He is survived by his wife of 61 years: Sis Havard Farris of Tarkington Prairie, daughters: Rhonda Farris of Baytown, Evonne Crocker and husband Wayne of Navasota, and Monya Farris of Lindale, brother-in-law: Cary Havard and wife Sally of Dayton, grandchildren: Jinifer Johnson and husband Billy, Rose Ann Barbeaud, Betsy Bergeron, Mollie Bergeron, Elizabeth Crump and husband Andy, Laura Sprouls and husband Brian, and Paul Rucker and wife Sarah, great-grandchildren: Cory Vauter, Colby Johnson, Jesse Johnson, and Haley Smith, great great-granddaughter: Kathryn Johnson, and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. In lieu of usual floral remembrances the family requests that donations be made to the Dayton Volunteer Fire Department at P.O. Box 606, Dayton, Texas 77535.