GEORGE C. FARMER

CARTHAGE-Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church in Carthage for George Clinton Farmer, 86, Carthage, who died Monday, June 6, 2016, after a long illness. Burial will be at Lake Cemetery in Lamar.

Arrangements are under the direction of Knell Mortuary, Carthage.

Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, at the mortuary.

Online condolences may be expressed through www.knellmortuary.com.

Survivors include his adorable sister, Virginia Faye Katatto, Frankfort, NY; daughters, Mary Bruffett and husband Jeff, Joplin and Karen Farmer, Granbury, Texas; a son, Bruce Farmer and wife Christine, Duenweg; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins and one fantastic sister-in-law, Joan Oglesby, Lamar.

He was preceded in death by his wife Marlene; brothers, John, Roy, Ray and Wayne and sister, Lois.

Mr. Farmer was born Sept. 13, 1929, in Golden City, the seventh child of Clint and Ethyl Farmer. He grew up on the farm and graduated valedictorian and class president of Golden City High School in 1947. He continued his education by achieving a Diesel Technical Engineering degree from University of Illinois, Chicago. He was very inquisitive and was always learning new things. He was a competent plumber, welder, fabricator, electrician and carpenter. His skills with Ford cars were unsurpassed during his era.

He married Alice Marlene Snook on Sept. 5, 1953. They were married 60 years and had three children. They loved to travel, camp, fish, garden and play cards and laugh with their family and friends. Mr. Farmer loved country music, especially Bob Wills and Asleep at the Wheel. He was a skilled guitarist and played in a band in the 60s and 70s. He loved to restore Ford Retractables. He enjoyed taking these beauties to auto shows and won many awards, including best of class at the Maple Leaf Festival. He loved to tell jokes and had an extensive collection that was unrivaled.

He always had a love for cars and devoted his career to automotive services. He worked as mechanic, front end alignment technician and for most of his career as a parts manager for Ford and Lincoln-Mercury dealerships in the four states area. He spent most of his career at C&C Ford in Carthage and Legan-Teeters and Midwest Lincoln-Mercury in Joplin. After his retirement, he worked part time for O'Reilly's in Carthage.

Mr. Farmer was a faithful member of First United Methodist Church in Carthage. He served as usher for many years and regularly attended for over 50 years. He delivered Meals on Wheels for many years and served as volunteer at local elections, as well. He was a man of great faith and was a great role model for all in his devotion to Christ. He was dedicated to his wife and family and lived his life with great integrity.