Mr. Gerald Lee Farmer, 77, passed away peacefully Monday, October 15, 2018 at his residence while surrounded by his loved ones. He was born in Kosciusko, MS on August 24, 1941 to Earnest and Juanita Farmer. He married Marilyn “Sue” Lee on December 30, 1988. Gerald loved his country and served in the U.S. Navy during peacetime. He considered it an honor to drive the Tupelo Golden Wave bus for many years, traveling almost 400,000 miles from Washington, D.C. to Orlando, FL and all in between. Once he returned from a trip, he cleaned and did maintenance on “his” bus because children were in his care while on that bus. He worked many years as a manager of the Elvis Presley Lake and later, Facility Maintenance Director, employed by Lee County where he retired. He enjoyed fishing and was an avid Mississippi State Bulldogs fan. Gerald was a loving husband, father, and granddaddy. He was a member of East Heights Baptist Church and in recent years, attended Beech Springs Free Will Baptist Church. He will be greatly missed by those who loved and knew him.
A celebration of life service with military honors will be at 12 noon, Thursday, October 18, 2018 in the Tupelo Chapel of Holland Funeral Directors with Dr. Dennis Kizzire and Bill Benson officiating. Private burial will follow at Lee Memorial Park. Visitation will be today (Wednesday) from 5 PM to 7 PM and Thursday from 11 AM to service time.
Survivors include his loving wife of almost 30 years, Sue Farmer of Tupelo; four daughters, Dana Tackett of Dorsey, Jodie Smith (Darby) of Long Beach, MS, Kim Price (Joe) of Guntown, and Jennifer Barber (Dusty) of Mooreville; one brother, Lamar Farmer of New Albany; 12 grandchildren, Joshua Tackett (Meghan), Jacob Tackett, Jonathan Tackett, Taylor Dickerson, Alex Holmes (Lauren), Gracelynn Smith, Ashley Williams (Chris), Adam Hogue, Lindsey Hogue, Zach Barber (Brittney), Grace Barber, and Addison Barber; 7 great-grandchildren, Alex Tackett, Adrian Tackett, Easton Dickerson, Faith Homes, Remi Holmes, Grisham Long, and Jeffrey Hogue; a host of other near family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife and mother of Dana and Jodie, Jamie Barkley Farmer, and a grandbaby, Cooper Barber.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons. Honorary pallbearers will be Dusty Barber, Darby Smith, Mel Harbin, and Ronnie Bell.
Memorials in memory of Gerald Farmer may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association of Mississippi, 855 S. Pear Orchard Road, Suite 501, Ridgeland, MS 39157.
