Elvus Farrow

Elvus E.J. Jerry Farrow, resident of Ponca City, passed away on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at the Ponca City Medical Center. He was 68. E.J. was born the son of Aven Orel Farrow and Hazel Luciell Peyton Farrow on March 25, 1941 at his home in Cushing, Oklahoma. He grew up in Shidler, Oklahoma and attended Shidler Public schools graduating in 1959. He later attended Oklahoma State University graduating with a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering and business economics in 1964. E.J. married Connie G. Eaton on June 17, 1961 at the First Christian Church in Shidler. To this union three children were born. E.J. enlisted in the United States Army on March 18, 1964 and was commissioned as second lieutenant. E.J. held many positions of employment while in the Army. He was a Cannon Field Artillery Officer, Jump Battery Commander in Vietnam, ROTC instructor and Operations and Force Development Officer. He was awarded the Legion of Merit National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with Four Bronze Stars, Air Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal WV 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal With 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and the Army Achievement Medal. E.J. proudly served in the United States Army for 20 years until his honorable discharge on March 31, 1984. He was a good leader and those that served with him admired him. E.J. loved people, having parties and entertaining. E.J. could always be counted on to create clever gifts to fit any occasion. He enjoyed hearing from old military friends and appreciated a good joke. E.J. loved music and was a disc jockey at the radio station in Pawhuska for several years. He also enjoyed reading and writing and wrote Fiction or Fact from Farrows Almanac for the Shidler Review for over 24 years. E.J. loved spending time with family and friends, especially his great granddaughters. He will be greatly missed. He is survived by his wife, Connie of the home; children, John E. Farrow and wife, Dori of Milford, Kansas, Candy Kay of Newkirk, Oklahoma and Scott W. Farrow and wife, Robin of Tonkawa, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Crystal Nelson, Randi Farrow, Courtney Farrow, Ciara Farrow and Brody Farrow; great grandchildren, Chasity, Kinlee and Adrian; sister, Dora Lee Fritz and husband, Kenneth of Owasso, Oklahoma; aunt, Grace Thomas of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; mother-in-law, Lois Eaton of Tonkawa, Oklahoma; nieces, nephews and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents and father-in-law, Ernest C. Eaton. Casket bearers for the service will be Trevor Sutton, Taylor Sutton, Brett Sutton, Justin Taylor, Shawn Wiley and Matthew Evans. Honorary bearers will be Dave Corlett, Richard Hammer, J.J. Gullic, Doug Long, Bob Ross and Gordon Figie. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, July 17, 2009 at the First Christian Church in Shidler with The Rev. Doug Scott officiating. Burial will follow at Foraker Cemetery in Foraker, Oklahoma under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel. Memorial contributions can be made in E.J.s honor to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 1904 N. Union, Suite 103, Ponca City, Oklahoma 74601.