Keith Farrar

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Keith Eugene Farrar age 83 died peacefully in his home in Boise, Idaho on December 24, 2023 with his wife and 2 of his daughters at his side after a valiant struggle with Parkinson’s over the last 15 years.

Keith was the 2nd of 7 children born to Bill (Eugene Reed) Farrar and his wife True Francis Hanny. He was born on June 26, 1940 in Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Keith and his sweetheart Mary Louise Wilson, were married in the Idaho Falls Temple on September 2, 1960. They had over 63 years together and never fought due to Keith’s wonderful ability to keep things calm and find a win-win solution to any differences of opinion. He spoiled Mary throughout their marriage, mostly letting her have everything she wanted, including a large family. Keith received a Bachelor of Arts from Utah State University in 1964. He went to work for the Internal Revenue Service as a Revenue Officer in July of 1964 and retired on December 31, 1999. As a teen-ager and during vacations he worked for his uncle, Grant Hanny, doing farm work, mostly in potatoes but he harvested hay and did other things. After he retired he drove cars for Sunset Motors for quite a few years.

Keith was a man of few words, but when he did talk you listened. He had a dry sense of humor and had the nurses laughing almost right up to the time he left the hospital and came home for hospice care. He never spoke ill of anyone.

Keith grew up in Firth, Idaho. He lived in Logan, Utah for two years while first attending college (this is where he and Mary meet). Right after they married they lived in Pocatello, Idaho and he went one semester at Idaho State. He took time off and worked at a fertilizer plant in Pocatello from the 1st of January until June. Then he went to work for his Uncle out on the desert (lava rock) west of Firth, managing 100 acres of potatoes. The next January (1962) they returned to USU where they lived in a married student trailer court until he graduated. He worked one part time job until Mary had to stop working and then he worked two part time jobs. His first job after getting out of school was with the IRS and he stayed with them until he retired. The first fourteen months we lived in Mesa, Arizona, then 7 years in Idaho Falls, and finally the years up to his retirement here in Boise. The last couple of years with the IRS he was the manager and didn’t have to travel.

Keith was active in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints all of his life. He served in the Stake Sunday School , Young Men’s MIA, Elder’s Quorum, was a counselor to two Bishops and an Executive Secretary to two Stake Presidents. He and Mary served in the Nebraska, Omaha and the Idaho, Boise missions on 18 month missions.

Keith is survived by his wife Mary and children: Merlin (Lynette), Cathi (Darin Miller), Carma, Brian, Eric (Heather), Rebecca (Mike Robins), and Amanda. Siblings Reed (LaRee) Farrar, Janice Schwendiman, Beverly Bell (Tony), Marilyn Jensen (Clint), and Steven (Kellie). His thirteen grandchildren and two grandchildren-in-law and eight great-grandchildren.

Keith was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and True Farrar, his brother Darrel, his brother-in-law Dale Scwendiman, his daughter Joyce, and his great-granddaughter Skyler Farrar.

Services for Keith will be held at the Hill Road Chapel on January 6, 2023 at 11 a.m. with viewing from 10 to 10:45 and interment at Dry Creek Cemetery afterwards. Relyea Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements and has a website for you to leave tributes.