Lila “Faye” (Pickens) Farmer, 90, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away Thursday (February 21, 2013) at Kirksville Manor Care Center in Kirksville.

The daughter of Maurice Lester and Beulah Maude (Maltby) Pickens, she was born July 1, 1922 in Kirksville. On April 5, 1943 in Kirksville, Faye was united in marriage to William Wallace Farmer, who preceded her in death on January 28, 2000.

She was also preceded in death by her parents.

Faye is survived by two sons, William Wallace Farmer Jr. and wife Connie of Plattsburg, MO, and James Maurice Farmer and wife Janell of Quincy, IL; two daughters, Carol Ann Lowe and husband Larry of Kirksville, MO and Nancy Elizabeth Selinger and husband, Robert of Herculaneum, MO; one brother, Frank Pickens of Kirksville, MO; one sister, Maurine Crawford of Kirksville, MO; eleven grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Faye graduated from Kirksville High School and attended three years at Northeast Missouri State Teachers College. She lived most of her life in the Sperry community. Faye was employed as a school teacher at the Wells, Willmathsville, Hazel Green and East Center Rural Schools. Faye also taught Nursery School in Long Beach, California, while her husband was in the Navy. She retired from teaching in 1967.

Faye was always a “farmer’s wife”. She enjoyed teaching with the church Bible School. Faye was a member of the Bethel Community Church. She also belonged to the Sweet Adelines, Sperry OAO Club and was a 4-H leader.

Funeral service will be held 2:00 p.m. Sunday (February 24, 2013) at Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville, with Pastor Marvin Cross, Reverend Jim Maxey and Reverend Boyd Halford presiding. Interment will follow the service at the Ft. Madison Cemetery Northeast of Kirksville.

Family will receive friends 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Saturday (February 23, 2013) in the chapel of Travis-Noe Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Mark and Grant Farmer, Gail Sullivan, Chris and Michael Lowe, and Tyler Roe.

Expressions of sympathy in memory of Lila “Faye” Farmer may be made to Bethel Community Church. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.