Comments:
I married Ila Jean on August 27, 1967. I attended SMS until I began working for my father- and mother-in-law, Ted and Lorene Scheets, at Scheets Hardware. In 1978, I opened Farris Sales & Service in Houston where I sold and repaired small engines. Our 3 children all graduated from Houston and I served on the school board for 15 years. In 2004, I sold my business and I have been the parts manager for a tractor/farm implement business in Licking since then. After we sold our home and farm north of Houston, we bought the family farm in 2003 from my mother in the Rocky Branch community which is just south of Simmons Baptist Camp. I am the fourth generation to live on and actively farm the acreage which my great grandparents originally purchased. We recently received the designation of Century Farm since my family has owned the farm for over 100 years. The original part of the house was built in 1873 and we have an ongoing project of working on the house. We presently have about 75 head of cattle on the farm. We are both active members of the Christian Church in Houston. Although neither of us has yet retired, we enjoy spending time whenever possible with our 9 grandchildren.
