Virginia Ruth Farmer was born in Henryetta to J. Fred Dean and Elizabeth (Blair) Dean Dec. 2, 1938. She died Jan. 29, 2023 at Tahlequah at the age of 84.
At Henryetta High School, Virginia played the clarinet and marched as a majorette in the Rose Bowl Parade. As a child in Henryetta she met the love of her life, Troy Farmer. Troy and Virginia were married for 66 years. This union produced three children, five grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
In Tahlequah, she owned a small daycare before becoming a teacher’s aide at Miss Purdy’s Kindergarten and Cherokee Elementary. She earned a Master of Special Education and a Reading Certificate at Northeastern State University and served as the reading specialist at Tahlequah Junior High.
She was active in the Church of the Nazarene, where she served in many capacities, including occasionally singing solos and leading music. She initiated an afterschool program at her church.
She was preceded in death by her father and mother Fred and Elizabeth Dean; brothers Fred Eugene and Bobby Joe, and sister Marilyn Gaither.
She is survived by her husband Troy of the home; sons Rick of Bethany, Stephen of Welling; daughter Darlene Carrell of Midland TX; grandchildren Nathan Farmer, Brandi Stegemoller, Andy Carrell, Megan Robinson and Wesley Farmer.
FUneral services will be held Saturday, Feb. 4 at 10 a.m. at the Tahlequah Church of the Nazarene with internment in Henryetta at Westlawn Cemetery at 2 p.m. under the direction of the Hart Funeral Home in Tahlequah.