(May 7, 1936 – April 1, 2021)
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Becky Farrar went to be with the Lord Thursday, April 1, 2021, while at her family ranch in Clairette, Texas. In true Becky fashion, she spent her last minutes, surrounded by the family she loved and adored, who were reading prayers and Psalms to her. Born Rebekah Louise Simmons in Quanah, Texas, on May 7, 1936, Becky was the first of four children to James W. (Jim) and Christine Simmons. The family moved to Dallas in 1941, where her father joined her grandfather in the family’s cottonseed oil mill business. From her father, Becky learned the importance of a strong faith, gained a love of flying, an interest in individual freedoms preserved, and the need for citizens to be involved and active in their communities. From her mother, she secured a deep love for the Scriptures, watched generosity and integrity modeled, and saw first-hand the importance of families working together.
A sixth-generation Texan, Becky attended school in Dallas and later graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in education. While in college, she met 1st Lieutenant Charles Jackson “Jack” Farrar, an Air Force flight instructor at Bryan AFB. They were married at Craig Air Force base in Selma, Alabama, on June 12, 1957. Their first son, Newt, was born in 1958, and their second son, Will, arrived in 1961. From 1959 – 65, the Farrar family lived in Quanah to work in the cotton oil mill industry. They spent the next six years in Atlanta, Georgia, where Jack flew 727’s for Eastern Airlines, and Becky taught at Colonial Hills Christian School. In 1972, they bought a ranch near Hico, Texas.. Never to be found idle, Becky served as director of three Texas agribusiness family corporations during this time.
At 20 years old, Becky decided to follow Jesus, and from that time on never ceased teaching Bible to all ages. Her passion for expository Bible study left none exempt, as her children and grandchildren can testify. Generations of flannel graph stories, child evangelism tools, and late into-the-night spiritual chats will be an unforgettable part of her family legacy. To borrow words from one of her heroes, Jim Elliot, much like her mother, Becky “had eternity stamped on her eyeballs.”
Once the boys were off to college, much of her time was dedicated to genealogical research writing family history. Initially, and without the aid of home computers and the Internet, Becky spent hours in libraries, courthouses, and cemeteries across the country to trace family history back to the early 1800s for the Baggett, Caskey, Simmons, Aiken, Bryan, and Farrar family lines. Becky wrote and published six books of local and family history.
Extended family visits to the family ranch were richly anticipated, as hosting was one of Becky’s love languages. She often said one of God’s greatest blessings was filling her dining table full of those she loved. Not content to stay at the table, Becky’s love of hosting fostered several multi-generation family trips across the world.
Becky had a deep love for her country and an appreciation and passion for preserving freedoms. She was involved with the Texas Federated Women’s Clubs (TFWC) for 37 years, serving for several years as the State Legislation Chairman, and as Capitol District President 1992-94. She was active in the Texas Farm Bureau, Erath County Historical Commission, Salado College Hill Foundation and Museum board, Hico Christian Women’s Fellowship, Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, and United Daughters of the Confederacy. Becky enjoyed teaching leadership conferences, public policy, and historical presentations. Active in public policy and politics for many years, Becky served on the Texas State Republican Executive Committee and ran for State Representative in 1996.. Becky was a Texas state delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1996 and 2000, and most recently, served as Texas State Director of Concerned Women for America, the largest women’s conservative public policy organization in the country that focuses on prayer, education, and community action to restore strong families and moral principles to our nation.
Becky was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Jackson (Jack) Farrar, and her sister, Shirley Hotchkiss of Irving. Those left to cherish her memory are her two sons and their families; Newt and Lorie Farrar of Tyler, Blake and Amanda Farrar of Boerne and their children, Macy, Bailey, and Brooke, and Katelyn and husband Tyler Sullins of Tyler and their children Eden and Judah; Will and Amanda Farrar of Hico, and their children William and Jackson, Christie Farrar of Tyler, Jordan and Carrie Farrar of Tyler and their children Andrew and Grace; Brother-in-law, Bryan Farrar of Apex, North Carolina; her siblings, Jimmy and wife Joanne Simmons of Denton, Celeta and husband Wally Walther of Quanah, Doug Hotchkiss of Irving; thirteen nephews and nieces and their entire families with whom she was very close; many of whom she was joyously able to visit with in person, or exchange text or video messages with during her final days. She considered this one of God’s greatest blessings to her.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Grace Bible Fellowship, 111 W 1st St., Hico, Texas under the direction of Harvest Hills Funeral Home in Hico. The visitation will be prior to services from 10:30 a.m. until services starting at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 5. Burial will immediately follow at the Clairette Cemetery, Highway 6, Clairette, Texas. This service will be livestreamed online at www.gbfhico.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Grace Bible Fellowship, P.O. Box 602, Hico, Texas 76457, where she was a founding member, and where she cherished the pastor’s Biblical teaching and her extended church family.
The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to nurse Staci Boone and all the staff at CCS Hospice of Dublin, Texas, for their loving care of Becky.
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