Andrew Ray Jackson "Red" Farris was born Nov. 24, 1930, to Ruben Ray Farris and Addie Bell Mooneyham Farris in Waller, Texas, and passed from our lives June 23, 2014, at age 83.
At the tender age of 14 he struck out from the family dairy farm to see the world, and boy did he see it! After a few years in the college of hard knocks and a stint in the Army, he married the love of his life, Betty Jean Kahn - he truly loved her until the day he died.
Together they had three children, Lynn and Mike Vollmer, Patrick, and Bettina and Gary Smigaj, and were blessed with five grandchildren, Colby and Kate, Martin Andrew, Kjelseth, Katelyn and Andrew. He taught them all the value of work, the importance of integrity and the power of love. He was so very proud of them all.
When Betty brought him home to visit he fell in love with the Flathead and said, "Let's stay." He began a decades-long association with Buttrey Foods that took the family to Cut Bank, Pocatello, Idaho and Billings. He purchased his own store in Great Falls and ultimately retired to the Flathead where he raised animals - cows, chickens, ducks and even a mule named Matilda.
Near the end of his life he was able to tell his children that he had accomplished all he had set out to do and was happy with his life. He was able to travel and enjoyed spending winters in California and Arizona and especially fishing in Texas with friends Ruby, Murland, Oscar and the rest of the fishing crew, while watching his kids and grandkids enjoy Bitterroot Lake in the summers.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Addie and Ruben Farris; brothers, Travis, John and Lewis Farris; and sister, Ruby.
He is survived by Betty and their three children and five grandchildren; sisters, Kay Adams of Dallas and Sue Laposki of Spring, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews who will all miss him very much.
There will be a viewing from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 26, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. A graveside service will take place at 2 p.m. Friday, June 27, at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell with Pastor Ron Pierce officiating. A reception for family and friends will follow at Red's home.