John Farris

John, Dad, Grandpa was born in Desjarlais, Northeast of Willingdon, Alberta in 1933, one of twelve children born to Steve and Anna Farrus. He was raised on the family farm, and ventured to Calgary in 1953, planning to join the Armed Forces Medical Training Corp. to study Dentistry, but when he met the love of his life, Nora Massey, he decided to remain in Calgary, and they were married in 1954. Sadly, Nora was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2004, and after years of caring for her, she passed away in 2014.

Dad is loved and fondly remembered by his four children; Judy (Ed), Brad (Linda), Barbara (Robin) and Bruce (Sondra), as well as seven grandchildren; Jennifer (Jason), Brian (Kimberly), Krysta, Kaitlyn (Chris), Brendan (Lauren), Rick (Piroska), and Stephanie (Rick), and their “full 9 player baseball team” of great grandchildren as he would jokingly refer to them – Elliott, Anderson, Sylas, Sydonia, Hunter, Blake, Brooks, June and Arlo.

Dad is survived by his sisters Vicky Davies, Evelyn Kinasewich, and Roseann Howard. He was predeceased by sisters Mary Melnyk and Lillian Wasylynchuk, brothers Bill, Martin and Michael Farrus; and Nicholas, Irene and Nancy in childhood. He will be remembered by the Farrus and Massey families and many longtime friends.

Dad spent most of his career with Pacific Petroleums, which was later acquired by Petro Canada. He spent many of those years in senior roles, most notably as Manager of the Empress Natural Gas Plant, northeast of Medicine Hat, Alberta; and the McMahon Plant Oil Refinery in Taylor, British Columbia, retiring in 1985. Not being one to sit still, John provided consulting services to a number of oil & gas entities for a further 15 years, through his company, EnJay Enterprises.

Dad’s favourite sport was golf, a pastime he enjoyed for seven decades. Moving back to Calgary in the mid-80’s, he joined the Fox Hollow Senior Men’s League as their youngest member and in the summer of 2024, he was recognized as the league’s most senior statesman. Curling was also a passion, and he enjoyed coaching his sons’ baseball teams in the 1970’s.

Dad loved his family and was an avid reader and lifelong learner, a man of integrity and compassion, a champion of human rights, equity and inclusion. He took great interest in current events and politics at every level, from global to municipal. Dad will be greatly missed, but we all take comfort in knowing he and mom are together for eternity.

The family would like to extend their deep appreciation for the care given to Dad by the medical teams at the Foothills and Peter Lougheed Medical Centers. A Celebration of Life will be held later this summer, at a date and location to be announced. If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made to a charity of their choice.

In loving memory of John, we invite you to celebrate his life and legacy at Bearspaw Golf Club on Sunday, August 10, 2025, at 1:00 pm. Lunch and refreshments will be served, followed by the Celebration of Life beginning at 2:00.