Nella Jean Farley

Jean, beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend to many, passed quietly in her sleep on March 11, 2015, at age 82, after two years of confinement to bed at home. She is survived by husband Phil Farley; daughter Shari Sims and Shari’s family, husband Alan Frol, son Taylor Sims, daughter Michelle Sims, and daughter Sarah Sims; by daughter Kathy Leach and Kathy’s family, husband Richard Leach and son Matthew Leach, and great granddaughter Kaliska Leach; by son Patrick Farley; and by sister and brother-in-law Shirley and Ed Glenn.

Born July 13, 1932, Jean led a life full of love and service. She was active in local and state PTA organizations, serving as president of PTAs at two elementary schools, a middle school, and two high schools. When her daughters were of Girl Scout age she served several years as a Girl Scout leader and was a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader during Patrick’s scouting years. She frequently held positions of leadership in her church and volunteered for many worthy causes in the community, always focused on serving the needs of others.

Remarkably, in 1989 at age 57, she entered college for the first time and earned a bachelor of science degree in rehabilitation science, with honors. Always with the objective of serving the needs of others, she went on to work as manager of several group homes for the developmentally disabled, and then to serve as a counselor to blind persons and volunteer coordinator at the Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind, from which she retired in 2002.

Above all, she was a great mother to her children, especially during Phil’s traveling years, always a devoted grandmother, a talented seamstress, a great cook and baker, and a regular player of April Fool’s Day jokes on Phil. A wide circle of good friends and family members enjoyed her caring ways, hospitality, and great sense of humor. Jean is missed by many, but missing her is more than offset by the many happy memories that she leaves. She touched the lives of many friends in the community in meaningful ways.

A Service of Celebration of Jean’s Life is scheduled for Saturday, May 23, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. at First Christian Church, 1835 Walnut, Carrollton, TX 75006. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Memorial Fund at First Christian Church of Carrollton in her memory are requested.