CHARLES FRANKLIN FARMER JR., age 94, a resident of Charleston died Sunday, August 31, 2014 at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born December 15, 1919 in Mississippi County to the late Charles Franklin and Cordia Sutherland Farmer Sr.


Commissioned with the US Army during WW II, he was discharged as a 1st Lieutenant in December 1952. As a commissioned officer he requested hazard duty and served in the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in the China, Berma, and India Theatre of Operations. He returned to Mississippi County where he was co-owner of the Farmer-Goodin Tractor Company and later Charleston Tractor and Implement Company. He served as a member and President of the Charleston R-1 School Board, was a member of the Charleston Lions Club and Charleston Masonic Lodge #407 AF & AM. In 1964 he moved to Memphis, TN where he was President and CEO of Implement Sales Company and was a member of Bartlett Hills Baptist Church where he served as deacon and chairman of the Outreach and Building programs. He returned to Charleston in 2005 following the death of his wife Juel.


On September 23, 1941 he married Juel Wilson who preceded him in death on August 7, 2005.

Surviving are two sons and one daughter-in-law, Charles F. "Chuck" and Melinda Farmer, III of Columbus, MS and Bruce Russell Farmer of Collierville, TN; two sisters, Dorothy Farmer Reed and Martha Ann Farmer Keener both of Charleston; four grandchildren, Charles F. "Chase" (Shelley)Farmer IV of Tupelo, MS, Wesley Allen Farmer of Birmingham, AL, Austin Russell (Lydia) Farmer of Collierville, TN, Allison Elizabeth Farmer (Greg) Cobb of Memphis, TN; three step grandchildren, Shannon (Mike) Gray of Columbus, MS, Stephanie (David) Fitts of Tuscaloosa, AL, and Leah Edmondson of Pensacola, FL; eight great grandchildren, Evan Michael Gray, Charles Wilson Farmer, Jack Wesley Farmer, Grace Hopkins Ellis, Preston Harris Fitts, Olivia Bennett Fitts, Margaret Ann Farmer, and Camden Asher Farmer; also eight nieces and two nephews.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Louise Farmer and Lois Farmer Hurley.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Monday, September 1, 2014 at the First Baptist Church in Charleston where funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 2, 2014. Rev. Keith Huffman of Ironton will officiate.


Missouri Military Honor Guard will conduct Graveside Rites at the IOOF Cemetery.

Interment will follow under the direction of McMikle Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Charles F. "Chase" Farmer IV, Wesley Allen Farmer, Austin Russell Farmer, Greg Cobb, Mike McIlroy, Bill Woods, John Keener, and Paul Keener.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Ronnie Rolwing, Jeff Renaud, Jim Burke, Emmett Burke, Michael O'Rourke, Reginald Young, Joe Forrest, Ronnie Chappell and Bob Skelton.

Memorials may be given be: Bartlett Hills Baptist Church to the "Together We Grow" Fund 4641 Ellendale Rd., Bartlett, TN 38135

First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 442, Charleston, MO 63834

St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105

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