Richard Farabee, 75 year old Goodwell, Oklahoma resident, passed away early Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at his residence.

Richard Jewell Farabee was born July 17, 1941 to Melvin Richard and Dorothy Virginia Beckwith Farabee in Aline, Oklahoma. His parents had a farm close to Oakdale Community until World War II. After the War, his father chose a career in airplane manufacturing in Wichita Kansas, and his mother became a secretary for Phillips Petroleum in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. So the independent spirit grew in the boy Richard, on his bicycle in the streets of Bartlesville and summers riding the sandy hills of Aline on his mare, Cookie. After his mother married Melvin H. Anderson in 1953, the family moved to Waco, Texas, where his step-father was active in Phillips 66 development of rocket fuel. The family later moved to Odessa, Texas, where Richard graduated from Odessa High School in 1959. He attended Texas A&M for a year and was hired for the summer by Phillips to work at ground maintenance at the Tex Booster, just north of Texhoma, Oklahoma. Richard rented a small house and spent his evenings at the Texhoma ballpark. He met Loretta Harland, who was chauffeuring her brothers, Kenny and Fred Harland, to the baseball practices and games. Richard transferred to Odessa Junior College for a semester before transferring to Panhandle A&M College in Goodwell. He was united in marriage to Loretta Harland on November 24, 1961. Their adventure began with hay and cattle work in Goodland, Kansas, feedlot work for Elmo Jones in Texhoma and later back in Aline. Soon after, he moved his family back to the Panhandle to run the Sweet Ranch, working for Fred Sweet for more than 15 years. He greatly increased the cow herd, and continued his love of ranching, working for George McDaniel for another 10 years. Richard enjoyed his work on the ranch and found each day with a challenge that often included blizzards, hay fires, flooded creeks, and wild crazy cattle. Richard always said, “I never retired, I quit.”

All four of his children graduated from Texhoma High School and have college degrees with Lynn and Mark, both obtaining a Master’s degree. Richard enjoyed travelling and saw most of the United States with his family; he realized a dream of visiting Alaska and Australia, with Mark as his guide. Richard seemed rough with his kids and grandkids, but was extremely proud they could stand on their principles and look people in the eye. 

He is preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy Anderson (1996), step-father, Melvin Anderson (2008), father, Melvin Richard Farabee (1985) and his son, Mark Farabee (2014).

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Loretta; sister, Virginia and husband, John Barnett ; brother, Kim Farabee of Wichita, KS; step-mother, Bertie Farabee of Haysville, KS. His children are June and husband, Larry Stovall of Tecumseh, OK; Lynn and husband, Billy Haden of Amarillo, TX; Matt Farabee and wife, Leslie of Owasso, OK; and daughter-in-law Roni Farabee of Houston, TX. Grandchildren are Jessie and husband, Justus Burk of Tecumseh; Sadie and husband, Hunter Anderson of Stratford, TX; Cami and Roy Haden of Amarillo; Mason and Liddie Farabee of Owasso, OK; Clayton Farabee of Greeley, CO; Lauren Farabee of Texhoma; and Sally Robinson of Houston. Great grandchildren are Kaleb, Autumn and Elizabeth.

The family will receive friends for viewing and visitation on Friday evening, 5-7 PM at the Texhoma Church of Christ, 214 W Elm.

Funeral services will be held Saturday morning, 10:00 AM, November 12th at the Church of Christ with Ron Eggleston officiating. Interment will follow in the Texhoma Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to the Texhoma Church of Christ or Texhoma FFA.  Friends may sign the online guestbook and send their condolences at www.hensonnovak.com.

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