Dr. Farris

John Farris was born on November 14, 1957 in Helena, Montana. He was the 8th child of Tommie Edith Young and Carrol "Bill" Farris.
John attended the University of Oklahoma for his undergraduate studies and the University of North Dakota School of Medicine before completing his MD at Michigan State University School of Medicine. It was at the University of North Dakota where he met the love of his life and best friend Brenda. John and Brenda were married on February 5, 1983.
Dr. John, as he was called by his patients, began his career in Fort Meade, South Dakota at the Veteran's Administration Medical Center. Dr. John answered the call to serve his people and returned to Oklahoma to serve as Medical Director for W.W. Hastings Indian Medical Center. His constant desire to serve and the commitment he had for the health of his people did not go unnoticed. Dr. John rose to Chief Medical Officer, for the Oklahoma Area Indian Health Service. The AARP recognized Dr. John last year for his work to improve the quality of health care of American Indians in Oklahoma, and awarded him the American Indian Elders Award.
The simplest thing that can be said about Dr. John is this: He was a force of nature, the rock that everyone clung to. In his path, things moved. Nothing stayed still. He was primal, persevering, and on fire with the possibility that something good was just about to happen if only you worked hard enough to make it so.
No one was as generous as he was. He gave more to people than people gave to him. If someone in his family needed something - a house, a car, a loan - chances were good he would give it. And no one mastered the stoic Indian look quite like Dr. John.
Dr. John had a life-long love affair with lemon meringue pies, angel food cake, chili verde from Fino's and Blue Bunny vanilla ice cream. He excelled at healing the sick, running tillers through fences and being an amazing Grandpa.
Dr. John was preceded in death by his mother Tommie Edith Farris, his father Carrol "Bill" Farris and his sister Carol Jaqueline Arrowsmith.
He is survived by his loving wife Brenda of the home; daughter Michelle LeBeau and husband Mike Schneider of St. Paul Minnesota; son John Jermaine Farris and wife Sarah of Tulsa; daughter Jennifer Farris and spouse Dustin Dubbs of Oklahoma City; son Zak Farris and wife Alayna of Tahlequah; son Mac Farris and wife Caitlin of Tahlequah; grandchildren Everett, Evan, Jamie, Sara, Zoey and Makaiya; siblings William, Patricia, Gary, Lottie, Michael and Valerie; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Dr. John departed this world too soon, but not without leaving an impact on everyone that met him. Dr. John passed on Friday, February 3rd at Oklahoma Heart Hospital in Oklahoma City at the age of 59, surrounded by those that loved him dearly.
Visitation will be Monday from 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Wake Services will be Monday from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at the Sequoyah High School Gym, The Place Where They Play, in Tahlequah, OK. Interment at Dwight Mission Cemetery with a reception to follow at the Cherokee Nation Veterans Center. Arrangements handled by Hart Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be made to the American Indian College Fund

Visitation

Hart Funeral Home
1506 N. Grand Ave
Tahlequah, OK  74464
Monday, February 6, 2017
10am-8pm

Service

Sequoyah Gymnasium
Tahlequah, OK  74464
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
10:00 am

Cemetery

Dwight Mission Cemetery
Vian, OK

Memorial Contributions

American Indian Scholarship Fund
8333 Greenwood Blvd.
Denver, CO  80221