JACK A. FARMER, age 82, formerly of Charleston, died Friday, January 31, 2014, at his residence in Washington, MO.

Jack was born June 18, 1931, in Charleston, MO, to the late Dora Baker Farmer and Jesse Newton Farmer. He graduated from Charleston High School and then served in the United States Navy from 1951 to 1954. On November 30, 1956, he married the love of his life, Wanda Faye Johnson Farmer. Jack and Faye lived in Charleston until 2002, before moving to Washington, MO to be close to their children and grandchildren. In Washington, Jack and Faye were members of the Faith Baptist Church. Faye preceded Jack in death on October 6, 2006.
Professionally, Jack worked for RC Davis Cotton & Grain as a bookkeeper from 1954 - 1967. From 1967 - 1969, he worked for Prudential Insurance Co. He then worked for Citizens Bank from 1969 - 2002, where he retired as bank President and CEO.

Jack devoted much of his life to giving back to his community, including as chairman of the Mississippi County Chapter of the American Red Cross, president of the Mississippi County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, president of the Charleston Kiwanis Club, member and former Grand Master of Masonic Lodge #407, board member of the Charleston Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the 4-H Club Board of Directors, trustee of the Missouri Delta Medical Foundation, deacon and treasurer of the First Baptist Church of Charleston, member of the Dogwood-Azalea committee, and volunteer at the Mississippi County Shelters Workshop and the Missouri Delta Community Foundation. As a result of these and many other contributions to his community, Jack was named the Charleston Lions Club Man of the Year in 1994.

Surviving are: two daughters, Loraine (Tom) Hale and Jackie (Steve) Unnerstall, all of Washington, MO; 6 grandchildren, Rebecca (Ross) Palis of Webster Groves, MO, Aubrey (Mark) Wylie of Maryville, IL, Drew (Bliss) Hale of Arlington, TN, Benjamin Hale of Memphis, TN, and Eric and Allison Unnerstall of Washington, MO; 8 great grandchildren, Layla Hale of Memphis, TN, Jackson, Caroline, Katherine, Charlotte and Lillian Wylie, all of Maryville, IL, and Eli and Archer Palis of Webster Groves, MO; and several nieces and nephews.

Jack was preceded in death by two brothers and three sisters, Robert Farmer, Jesse Farmer, Lucy Whitehead, Emma Heim and Annis Marie Farmer.

Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Monday, February 3, 2014 at the McMikle Funeral Home. Masonic rites will be held at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Services will be at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 4, 2014 in the McMikle Chapel.

Interment will follow in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery near Charleston with military rites provided by the Missouri Military Honors Program.

Pallbearers will be Benjamin Hale, Drew Hale, Ross Palis, Eric Unnerstall, Mark Wylie, Ben Whitehead, Bob Whitehead and Jim Whitehead.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Archer Palis, Eli Palis, and Jackson Wylie.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Faith Baptist Church, 7345 Highway KK, Washington, MO 63090 or Memorial Baptist Church, 205 Sunset Lane, New Haven, MO.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com