Mrs. Marlene Joyce Emerine Farmer passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus and waiting family members on the morning of May 5, 2023. Marlene was born in Long Beach, CA on June 16, 1933 at the Long Beach Naval Hospital to Roy and Eva Emerine. The daughter of a naval officer, she moved many times through her childhood and loved to share stories about living in each city which included Bremerton, WA, and Louisville, Ashland, and Paducah, KY. When World War II began, her father settled his family in Carrsville, KY, the home of her mother and near his hometown of Joy. It was in Carrsville where Marlene made her profession of faith. After the war ended, Marlene and her family lived again in Paducah, KY, then Portsmouth, VA; Raleigh, NC; and both New Boston and Manchester, NH. Throughout her childhood, she loved playing the piano, ice skating, roller skating, singing, paper dolls, and playing games, especially Monopoly. She made lifelong friends in each new city and corresponded with many the rest of her life.
In 1946, her father retired from the Navy and Marlene settled in Benton, KY at the age of 13. Here she made many friends, loved her school days, going to Kentucky Lake, and played the piano and organ for her church as a teenager. It was also in Benton where she met the love of her life, Bobby Brooks Farmer. They were married on October 23, 1951 in Oxnard, CA where Bobby was stationed in the Navy. From there, they lived on base at Point Magu, then moved to Jacksonville, FL where their son, Jeff, was born. After the Navy, Bobby, Marlene, and Jeff moved back to Benton, KY where Bobby attended school at Murray State University. They then moved to Memphis, TN to the UT Memphis School of Pharmacy. Here their daughter Julia was born. After pharmacy school graduation in 1959, Marlene and her family first moved to Jackson, TN then settled in Maryville, TN where they welcomed their son, John. Marlene loved Maryville dearly and talked about it fondly always.
It was not easy for her to move to Murfreesboro in 1964, but she did, not knowing yet how special it was to become. Marlene and Bob and their family joined First Baptist Church where they made many very close friends. Marlene taught choir and Sunday School and was a long-time member of the adult choir which always held a special place in her heart. A fourth child, a daughter, Jamie, was born. Marlene worked alongside Bob at Martin Rexall Drug Store on the Murfreesboro Square. She was often called upon to substitute teach which she enjoyed so much, especially at Reeves Rogers where she made more close friends.
Most of all, Marlene loved being a wife and best friend to Bob Farmer and being a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. These were her greatest joys. She was loving, supportive, protective, and generous. She was a good listener, exuberant cheerleader, and always encouraging. The dreams of her family members were her dreams, too. She was always there, supporting goals and seeing gifts and potential. Telling us, yes, you can. Marlene loved to travel. She loved the beach. She loved music, theatre, and movies, still going to the drive-in movie in her late eighties. She loved to laugh. She loved rocking babies. She was a voracious and avid reader. She was game for spur of the moment adventures and drives to new places. She loved strawberry shortcake. She loved her Grace Sunday School class members. She loved reuniting with cousins on trips later in life. She loved chatting on the phone with her best friends late at night. Most of all, she loved deeply, fully, and fiercely.
Marlene was preceded to Heaven, by her parents, Roy Price Emerine and Eva Campbell Emerine Niebanck; sister, Dolores Ramona Emerine; husband, Bobby Brooks Farmer; son, Dr. Jeffery Roy Farmer; step-brother, Paul Niebanck; and step-father Richard Niebanck.
To be reunited with her at another time, she leaves daughters, Julia Farmer and Jamie Farmer Oneida and her husband Dene; son, John Farmer and his wife Margaret; daughter-in-law, Linda Farmer; sister, Royalyn Lawrence and her husband Dan; nephew, Mark Phillips and his wife Anne; great-nephew, Colton Phillips; nieces, Bonnie Irwin, Debbie Farmer, and Vicky Sigler; grandchildren, Joshua Farmer and his wife Kaitlin, Jill Clement and her husband Joe, Ethan Farmer and his wife Cayla, Dr. Brett Farmer and his wife Jennifer, Anna Dyson and her husband Caleb, Micah Farmer and his wife Renee, and Sarah Farmer; great-grandchildren, Eli Farmer, Levi Farmer, Savannah Clement, Kinley Farmer, Abigail Clement, Karley Farmer, Ellie Farmer, Daisy Clement, and soon to be Baby Dyson; and the close friends who blessed her life.
Her family would like to thank so many for their support and love and prayers. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for books to be donated to Marlene’s beloved First Baptist Church Library.
Visitation will be Wednesday, May 10, 2020 from 12:00noon to 2:00pm at Woodfin Memorial Chapel. Funeral services will be Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at 2:00pm at Woodfin Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.
