Don Ray Farmer

Don Ray Farmer, 71, a resident of Commerce Twp., Michigan, met the Lord on July 18, 2016 at 9:36 p.m. at Huron Valley Hospital, surrounded by his family and church family singing his favorite hymn, “I’ve Got a Mansion”.

Don was born to the late Rufus Daniel and Hazel Irene (Norris) Farmer on Aug. 8, 1944 in Lepanto, Ark. Don graduated from Dyess High School in 1962, where he met his sweetheart, Lena Ruth (Humphrey) Farmer.

Mostly self taught, Don moved to Ill. and Colorado where he was an Agent Operator of Transit for the Rock Island railroad before moving on to a career at General Motors where he retired in June 1996. He also received an Associates degree in General Biblical Studies from Liberty University.

His hobbies included reading late into the night, tinkering and philosophizing. He dedicated over 30 years of care and talent to Oxbow Lake Baptist Church, where he was a deacon, junior church teacher and the Sunday School Administrator.

Don is survived by his wife of 53 years, Lena Ruth Farmer; his daughter and son-in-law Belinda Faith (Farmer) Swaney and Dana Andrew Swaney; his son and daughter-in-law, Don Ray Farmer II and Leslie Mae (Phelps) Farmer; his grandkids Cameron Daniel Swaney, Autumn Noelle Swaney, Seth Ray Farmer, Benjamin David Farmer, Lena LeeAnn (Farmer) Chizek and her husband Robert Madison Chizek, and one great grandchild, Robert Malachi Chizek; his siblings, Gladys Smallwood and Doyle Farmer.

Preceded in death by his siblings; Sara (Farmer) Davis, James Daniel (JD) Farmer and Cherry Jean Farmer.

Truly a reserve of kindness, a treasure trove of humility and a wealth of wisdom and knowledge has been lost. Don will be dearly missed.

The viewing will be held at the White Lake Chapel of the Elton Black & Son Funeral Homes, 1233 Union Lake Road on Thursday, July 19, 2016 from 6-8 p.m. and Friday at church from 10 am until the time of funeral. The funeral service will be at Oxbow Lake Baptist Church, Friday at 11 a.m. with a luncheon to follow.

Friends and family may meet at the funeral home at 2:00 pm following lunch for the procession to Commerce Memorial Cemetery for the graveside service.