Obituary of James E. Farris

James E. Farris went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, January 24th, 2015. He was born in 1930 in Bloomington, IN to Hubert and Charlotte Farris. He graduated from Oroville High School, Oroville, CA in 1948 and attended college at Chico State in Chico, California and Augustana College in Rock Island, IL. He served as a pilot in the Air Force from 1950 to 1954, when he was honorably discharged with the rank of Captain. While serving at Davis Monthon Airfare Base, he met Kay Reppe of Bisbee, AZ. They were married in 1955. Jim became a captain at Continental Airlines and worked there for 35 years. In 1970, they moved to Tucson, AZ with their children, Jay, Randy and Kristin. He loved studying the history of the southwest, hiking and camping and riding his motorcycle. In 1995, Jim retired from the airline and moved with Kay to Portal, AZ in 2005. In Portal, Jim served as President of the Paradise Cemetery Association and often fixed the roads with his Cat backhoe. Jim spent his last years split between Portal and Tucson. Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Kay, his parents and his sister, Charlotte. He is survived by his son Jay, son Randy and daughter Kristin. He has 6 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. A memorial service will take place at Adair Funeral Homes, Avalon Chapel, 8090 N. Northern Ave., Oro Valley, AZ at 2:00 pm, on Saturday, February 7th. A reception will follow at Macayo's Restaurant at 7360 N. Oracle Rd. Donations can be made in his memory to the Arizona Historical Society at www.arizonahistoricalsociety.org under the donations tab. Choose AHS Greatest Need Memorial and put Jim's name in the text box.