William “Willy” Farris, son of William Farris and Irene (Hale) Baney was born October 3, 1957, in Kennewick, Washington, and departed this life October 13, 2024, at Cox South Medical Center in Springfield, Missouri, at the age of 67 years old.
He was united in marriage to Patty Barber on November 28, 1975, and to this union 5 children were born.
He was preceded in death by his father; son, William Dale Farris; daughter, Carol Henry; brother, Mike Farris; sister, Sherry Stout; his in-laws, Orville and Viona Barber; sisters-in-law, Karen Weddle and JoAnn Farris; brother-in-law, Eddie Barber.
Willy is survived by his wife, Patty; children, Karen Wallace and husband Jim, April Henry and husband, Ricky, and Joe Farris, all of Mansfield, Missouri; 13 grandchildren, Cody Henry and wife, Brooke, Logan Henry and wife, Karina, Ethan Wallace and wife, Blaine, Kristen Brown and husband, Tyler, Ryan Wallace, Blake Henry and wife, Parker, Jamisen Thulin and husband, Zaven, Paige Henry, Jadyn Farris, Camilla Farris, Dominic Farris, JD Farris, and Jax Farris; 11 great-grandchildren; mother, Irene Baney; brother, Bruce Farris; brother-in-law, Jay Stout; sister-in-law, Cathy Easley; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.
He was born in Washington and moved to Missouri with his family where he attended Ava and Mansfield Schools. He worked in construction all over the United States. He never stopped working because he couldn’t sit still. He recently bought a sawmill and piddled outside every chance he got. He built small furniture and years ago built the last 2 houses he and Patty lived in and recently when his health allowed, he attended Lead Hill Church.
In his spare time, he enjoyed woodworking, sitting around a bonfire year-round listening to good old country songs, taking care of his chickens, his 1000 tomato plants, and Patty’s flowers.
Willy didn’t call his grandkids by name, he called them “Bud” and “Sis” and greatly enjoyed getting them in trouble and out of trouble. He saved the grandkids from spankings every time he could and teased them with “shorty”.
He was always willing to help anyone who needed it and even those who didn’t deserve it. He was good at making people laugh and ticking people off, and he loved his dogs, Tyson and Izzy, probably more than his own kids.
Right or wrong, Willy was a BIG book of knowledge and an entrepreneur at heart (fly flipping business).
