Mary Ellen Farmer

Mary Ellen Farmer, age 73, of Norman, passed away Friday, May 15, 2020. She was born on September 20, 1946 in North Little Rock, the daughter of Hubert William Simpson and Wilma Rae Watts Simpson. She was preceded in death by her parents; her children, James Farmer and Jeri Farmer; her grandchildren, Gary Wayne Hamner, Korey Ruis and Brianna Cox; and her siblings, Roy Simpson, Hubert "Hootie" Simpson, Billy Simpson, Charles Simpson, Lela Goodknight and Alice Faye Simpson. She attended Jesus Name Peace Tabernacle in Mount Ida. Mary worked hard and had many careers, which included working as a certified nursing assistant, at the glove factory, shoe factory and sawmill. She went back into the healthcare field in her 40s, putting herself through nursing school and later worked with terminally ill children. She finished her nursing career at Montgomery County Nursing Home. Mary enjoyed sewing, coloring pictures, framing them for her family and hosting picnics which often ended in watermelon rind fights. She loved to crochet and share her talent by making prayer shawls. She was a great storyteller with a wonderful sense of humor and adored her family. She is survived by six children and their spouses, Venita and Danny Collins of Valley Springs, Jennitta Farmer of Western Grove, Carol and L. D. Cogburn of Norman, Sheila and Greg Hamner of Caddo Gap, Chris Farmer of Norman and Kent and Hannah Farmer of Norman; twenty-four grandchildren, Shane, Contessa, John, Jr., Vanessa, Alysia, Justin, Casey, Brandon, Tara, Michael, John, Molly, Sheena, Jenna, McKenzie, Katelyn, Chris, Jr., Stephen, Ellen, Hannah, Desiree, James Cole, Cotton and Fielo Ren; thirty-five great-grandchildren, Paige, Grayden, Ivy, Mahala, Chloe, Claire, Colton, Creasie, Peyton, Dannin, Dallas, Haley, Gloria, Jared, Blake, Gabriel, Ariel, Jadan, Kadance, Maelynn, Zachary, Jude, Josh, Oliver, Penelope, Keigan, Elayna, Dominic, Sebastian, Araiyah, Eric III, Liam, Wyatt, Jasper and Jasmine; one great-great-grandchild, Dylan; six siblings and their spouses, JoAnn Burnett of Startup, Washington, Sam and Carole Simpson and David and Sherree Simpson, all of Snohomish, Washington, Doyle Simpson of Hilo, Hawaii, Wilma Higgs of Notie, Oregon and Rhonda Hysmith of Vidalia, Georgia; and many nieces and nephews. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Davis-Smith Funeral Home and Crematory, Glenwood. Guest registry is at www.davis-smith.com.