Farrell Eugene Reeves passed away peacefully in Orem, Utah on February 15, 2018 at the age of 92. He was born in Kemmerer, Wyoming on July 25, 1925. He was the only child of Raymond and Florence Reeves. Farrell moved with his parents to Capay, California in 1936 and then to the June Smart Ranch on the Claribel/Waterford Highway. He attended Oakdale Schools and graduated from Oakdale High School in 1943. He played violin, clarinet and saxophone. He loved playing in the High School Dance Band.
Farrell served as a Marine in 1944-1946 and saw action in Okinawa, the Ryukyu Islands and the occupation of China. He returned home to attend Modesto Junior College and graduated from Chico State University in 1950. He married Phyllis Elizabeth Harmon on June 20, 1948. Farrell taught three years at Oakdale Union Elementary, one year at Escalon High School, and 29 years at Oakdale High School. He loved teaching and later became a High School Counselor. He loved learning and filled his home with books, art and music.
He was one of the earliest members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the area, and served faithfully in many church positions. His wife Phyllis predeceased Farrell in 2012 and he is survived by his five children who claim that they have “the best Dad ever!”: Claudia Reeves, Cynthia Hofmann (Gary), Daphne Spann (Edwin), Shawn Reeves (Julie), Suiska Rhodes (Brent), 14 grandchildren and 29½ great grandchildren. He was interred at Lakewood Memorial Park in Hughson, California on February 28, 2018 with full military honors. A family memorial was held in Utah on March 2, 2018. Farrell was a devoted husband and father and an avid Giants and 49er fan. His favorite sayings were, “We’ll get ‘em next year!” and “We had ‘em all the way!”
The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader
March 7, 2018