Rachel Farris

Rachel Joyce Farris, 96, formerly of West Lafayette, passed away Thursday, August 25, at her daughter Nancy's home in Southern Pines, NC. Rachel was born August 16, 1926, in Henry County to the late Lewis and Mary Naomi Rutherford. She was raised on a farm near Springport, Indiana, and graduated from Mount Summit High School in 1944. She attended Butler University from 1945-47 and then transferred to Purdue University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics in 1950. She earned a Master of Science degree in Home Economics from the University of Illinois in 1951 and from 1951-53 was an instructor and research assistant in the Home Economics Department of the University of Georgia in Athens. She married Paul L. Farris in 1953 and joined the Home Economics Department at Purdue University as an instructor in 1953. She is remembered as sweet, cheerful, intellectually curious, and a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She was an excellent homemaker, and her college training aided in her design of the family home she and husband Paul built in West Lafayette on Woodland Ave., where they lived for 50 years. They were members of First United Methodist Church of West Lafayette. Preceding her in death are her parents, her husband Paul, and her brother Philip. Rachel is survived by daughter Nancy Harvey and husband Douglas of Southern Pines, NC; son Paul James and wife Patricia of Ellensburg, WA; son John and wife Julie of State College, PA; son Carl and wife Darlene of Ipswich, MA; sister Janis Emery and husband Al Barney of East Leroy, MI; sister-in-law Carolyn Kelsey of Vincennes, IN; many nieces and nephews, and 13 grandchildren: Monica, Colleen, and Brian (Katie) Harvey of Southern Pines, NC; Benjamin Harvey of Ft. Carson, CO; Taylor (Matthew) Peterson and son Leif of Ellensburg, WA; Mariah, Rachel, and Amanda Farris of Seattle, WA; Jacob, Joseph, and Anna Farris of State College, PA, and Adam and Madeleine Farris of Ipswich, MA. Visitation will be on Friday, September 9, at 10:00 a.m. at Community United Methodist Church in Vincennes, IN, with services to follow at 10:30 am and burial at Memorial Park Cemetery in Vincennes. Goodwin-Sievers Funeral Home is privileged and honored to be entrusted with the care of Rachel. Memorial contributions can be made in her name to Community United Methodist Church, 1548 S. Hart Street Rd., Vincennes, IN 47591.