Obituary
Charlotte Eleanor (Sipple) Farris, 88, of Mexico, died at 2:53 p.m. at Teal Lake Assisted Living Center.
Charlotte was born Nov. 5, 1921 in Laddonia, the daughter of James Medley and Maggie Augusta (Skelly) Sipple. Her early schooling was at Laddonia Public School until 1932, when the family moved to Fayette. She graduated from Fayette High School in 1939, where she was Salutatorian, and then attended Central Methodist College in Fayette.
She married John Leroy Farris on Nov. 21, 1940 at the home of her parents. After he returned from WWII, they lived near Rush Hill on the old Skelly-Snook place (where her mother was born) from 1948 to 1996, when they moved to a new home across the road, built for them by their children. They enjoyed the new home until John’s passing in 2005.
They lived in the Littleby Methodist Community for over 60 years, in the neighborhood of many dear friends and family members. They spent many evenings playing cards and dominos, and visiting the neighbors.
Charlotte was a farm wife, a homemaker and a loving mother to her four children. She cherished her family dearly. She enjoyed her flowers, gardening, sewing and quilting. She was a leader in Prairie Dale Helping Hands 4-H Club. Her children attended Hedgedale School in the country.
She was an active and devout member of Littleby United Methodist Church until it closed. She was a Sunday School teacher, Bible School teacher, sang in the church choir and enjoyed the UMW. Later, she was a member of Mexico United Methodist Church, Bruce Circle, and loved her UMC prayer group.
Mrs. Farris is preceded in death by both her parents and her husband; and three sisters, Dessie Elma Elliott, Clementine Elizabeth Fields and Sarah Margaret Burkey; one brother, William H. (Bill) Sipple; and one nephew, James Elliott.
Survivors include her four children, Rebecca Louise (Joe) Pillars of Quincy, John William (Charma) Farris of Harrisburg, Donna Margaret (Brian) Rucks of Itasca, Illinois, and Barbara Joanne (Wayne) Bevell of Kirksville; and a special foreign exchange student daughter from Chile, Carmen Arenas.
Also remaining are nieces and nephews, Dorothy Carter of Mexico, Cy Fields of Independence, Lois Ann Sipple of Topeka, Kansas, and Joyce Essman of Arizona.
She has seven grandchildren, Charles Michael Nell, Tracy Dean Nell, William Anthony Farris, Amy Jo Justice, Susan Nicole Fleming, Jennifer Gilaine Bevell and Max Edward Bevell; five step-grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and four step-great grandchildren. She also leaves behind a host of friends, loving cousins, and extended family members, and new friends at Teal Lake Assisted Living Center.
Memorials may be made to Mexico United Methodist Church and Littleby United Methodist Cemetery Fund.
