Mary Farnham

Mary Elizabeth Farnham, born July 6, 1932 in Miami, MO, the fourth of 10 children of Fannie and Leonard Walker, graduated from the small high school of Napton, MO. She passed away December 29 at UnityPoint Health Des Moines Methodist. Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 2, 2014 at Valley Church, 4343 Fuller Dr. in West Des Moines.

She married Stanley Everett Farnham September 27, 1951 in Marshall, MO, when he returned from U.S. Army basic training. Mary returned to Marshall then joined her husband after OCS (officer candidate school) at Ft. Benning and jump school. The next assignment was Fort Campbell, KY where their first son was born. She again returned to Marshall when her husband went overseas. After the war was over, they settled in Kansas City, MO, where he worked as an engineer with Westinghouse while attending school at night. Mary managed the house and two children with the arrival of Linda in 1955. In 1957, the family moved to Des Moines, and the first event was the birth of Tim. Marlene followed in 1958, Mike in 1961 and Greg in 1962. Mary had her hands full with six children. Yet, she found time to be a delegate to the Republican State Convention, to have an AFS student from Brazil for a year and to lead girl scout and cub scout packs.. Managing the house and six children was a full-time job. The six children all were at her bedside when she died: John Steven Farnham (Sherry) of Austin, TX; Linda Colby (Mike) of West Des Moines; Timothy Everett Farnham (Pam) of Wichita, KS; Marlene Bysted (Steve) of Janesville, WI, Michael Romeyn Farnham (Sue) of Madison, WI; and Gregory David Farnham of Sunnyvale, CA. She had 13 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren.

Moving to Janesville, WI in 1972, Mary became the first female in the Sears Appliance department; and for a time worked for Joann Fabrics. She owned and operated a computer software store. She also served as President of the Janesville Republican women and the YWCA Board. In 1981, Stan was promoted to general manager and for the next decade Mary traveled with him extensively in the U. S. and around the world. In 1990, during a decade of doing corporate turnarounds, ultimately turning around five companies. Mary supported and was involved in this high stress effort.

In 1998 they moved to Florida, and then built a home on a lake in Naples in 2002, where Mary founded and was Queen of Waterways Red Hatters for 10 years and led water aerobics. She also was on the Naples Queen’s Council an organization of more than 50 chapters. She traveled with her husband, as partner, 5,000 miles a year (in Florida) for the five years as President of the Florida Lighthouse Association, visiting the 30 lighthouses in Florida many times and attending meetings.

She was the most beautiful woman, inside and out. Never a bad word about anyone. She saw good in everyone. She and her husband moved to the Lodge of Ashworth, West Des Moines, one year ago where she was active in many events.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Guadalupe Center of Immokalee, 509 Hope Circle, Immokalee, FL, 34142.


Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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