Marjorie Swanson Farrar

Marjorie Swanson Farrar, 94, of Mt. Vernon, Illinois, died Nov. 27 at Lewis Memorial Christian Village in Springfield, where she had lived for the past two years.

She was born March 11, 1922, in Hitchcock, Oklahoma, the daughter of Samuel and Nora Walsh Swanson. She grew up in Watonga, Oklahoma, with one brother, J. Russell Swanson, who preceded her in death. She was married October 24, 1943, to Fletcher Farrar, who died in 1995 after 51 years of marriage. They were residents of Mt. Vernon since 1950.

Her work life included office jobs during the war years, teaching school in Cache, Oklahoma, and Salem, Illinois, and occasionally working in the office at Farrar Oil Company. Following the death of her husband, she became owner of Farraway Farm, which still operates near Bluford, and she served as board chair for Farrar Oil Company until the company was sold in 2001.

Marjorie was a longtime member of Central Christian Church in Mt. Vernon, where she taught Sunday school and sang in the choir. She was a Girl Scout leader for more than 10 years, and a Red Cross swimming instructor. She volunteered at Central Christian in the food pantry and the business office, at the Red Cross blood bank and at Good Samaritan hospital. In 2001 she was honored for her volunteer activities with a “Senior Saint” award from the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce. She was a benefactor of the Rend Lake College Foundation Children’s Center.

She enjoyed working on crafts projects, spending time in Siesta Key, Florida, and traveling. Among the places she visited are the Soviet Union, China, Europe, Australia and her ancestral home of Sweden. She was a 76-year member of P.E.O. International, and an active member of the Whippoorwill Club on Jaycee Lake.
Marjorie is survived by a daughter, Barbara Schade, married to Herb Schade, of Neosho, Missouri, and a son, Fletcher Farrar Jr., married to Mary Jessup, of Springfield, Illinois. Her son, Randall Farrar, died in 2006.

She has seven grandchildren: Ann Farrar, married to Drew Hirshfield, of Brooklyn, New York; Elizabeth Farrar of Springfield, Illinois; Laura Schade Long, married to Andy Long, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Eric Schade, married to Jennifer Schade, of Pensacola, Florida; Mark Schade, married to Lisa Schade, of Neosho, Missouri; Jessica Farrar Hirsch, married to Brian Hirsch, of Kildeer, Illinois; and John Thomas Farrar of Hillsboro, Tennessee.

She has eight great grandchildren: Sky Rachel Farrar Hirshfield, Maddie Lou Long, Tyler Schade, Benjamin Michael Schade, Noah Fletcher Schade, Tanner Ray Schade, Paisley Rose Schade and Mason Randall Hirsch.

Services will be Dec. 27 at Central Christian Church, Mt. Vernon, Illinois, with visitation at 10 a.m. and funeral at 11 a.m., with pastors Randy Sells and Howard Kraps officiating. Burial of ashes will be in Oakwood Cemetery, Mt. Vernon. Staab Funeral Home of Springfield is in charge of arrangements, with information at StaabFuneralHome.com. Memorial gifts may be made to Central Christian Church, 301 N. 10th St., Mt. Vernon, Illinois 62864, or to the Rend Lake College Foundation.