Barbara Farley

Memorial service for Barbara Hansford Farley will be held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, May 15, 2014 at the First Baptist Church of Claremore. Pastor Sam Nichols will officiate.

Barbara passed away Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at the age of 80.

The daughter of Clarence and Mildred Rhinehart Hansford was born October 29, 1933 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. As a young girl she lived in Jenks where her family owned a dairy farm. A few years later her family sold their farm and moved to the Verdigris area where her father was a ranch manager. Barbara attended Verdigris schools and Claremore High School. It was there at Claremore High School that she first met her future husband, James Farley. After graduating in the spring of 1951, Barbara decided to continue her education. She enrolled at the University of Tulsa, and joined the Delta Delta Delta Sorority. On December 10, 1956, Barbara married her high school sweetheart James Farley in Altus, Oklahoma. They made their home in Altus where Jim was stationed at the Altus Air Force Base. Over the next couple of years Barbara and Jim moved to Tulsa and then finally to Claremore where they have been ever since.

Over the years Barbara worked several jobs in the local area. In high school she worked at Heins Jewelry, and after college she worked at Shell Oil Company where she was selected to be a “Shell Belle”. After raising her children she worked as a business manager for her husband James A. Farley, CPA, then later at Pixley Lumber, and for the Rogers County Work Training Center, among others.

For many years Barbara was active in the Claremore community. She was a member of PEO, original member of the Claremore Hospital Auxiliary, founding member of the Rogers County Association for Retarded Citizens, Home of Hope board member, Rogers County Work Training Center board member, and member of the Business and Professional Women's Foundation as well as many others. When she wasn't volunteering in the community, she could be found with family and friends. She enjoyed her Bridge Clubs, her cabin at the Claremore Outing Club, and traveling with friends especially on bus trips. She enjoyed the arts and was an early participant in the Claremore Community theatre. She also looked forward to the yearly celebration of her and Jim's first date which was Valentine’s Day, 1950.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Clarence and Mildred Hansford and sibling Phyllis Hansford Haynes.

Survivors include her husband of 57 years James of the home; children, James "Eric" Farley and wife Andra, Adrienne Ann West and husband Marc, all of Claremore, and Barbara "Suzanne" Farley of Vinita, and grandson, Mitchell Dane West of Claremore.

Memorials may be made to the Home of Hope, 960 W. Hope Ave., Vinita, OK 74301.