Obituary of Evelyn M. Farley

Evelyn May (Risley) Farley of Jamestown, NY passed away at 10:39 A.M. on Thursday, April 6, 2023 at UPMC Chautauqua in Jamestown, NY. She was born the 4th of 7 children to H. Ivan and Gail M. (Flick) Risley on October 11, 1925 in Cherry Creek, NY. For a time, she and her family lived in Findlay, Ohio, but eventually returned to the Jamestown area where they remained. Locally, she attended the Ellington School in Ellington, NY until it was consolidated with Falconer Central High School in Falconer, NY, where she completed grades 11 and 12, and graduated with the Class of 1943. On November 6, 1948 in the Frewsburg Baptist Church, Frewsburg, NY, the Rev. Henry Haglund officiated at her wedding, when she united in marriage with Frederick James Farley. Together, Frederick and Evelyn had 4 daughters and lived in Jamestown for their entire marriage. In later years, Frederick experienced permanent physical conditions that required Evelyn to become his full-time caretaker. She faithfully cared for him at home until his passing on October 2, 2004. During Evelyn's years of employment in Jamestown, both before and after marriage, she worked at Jamestown Sterling, Jamestown Stamp Company, Duramold, Jamestown Plywood (where she met her husband), Jamestown Stamp Company for a second time, and lastly, Shea's Dry Cleaners, where she worked from October 1985 to July 2, 1988. In addition to employment outside the home, Evelyn was successful in many aspects of being a homemaker. More importantly, her Christian faith inspired her into striving to be a positive role model for her family, friends, and people in general. This was evidenced by her integrity, humility, generosity, sacrifice, fulfillment of her marriage vows and service to God and those around her. Evelyn was a member of the Sinclairville Baptist Church from 1943 to 1957. From 1957 to the present, she was a member of the Chandler Street Baptist Church, Jamestown, NY, which was renamed Hillcrest Baptist Church once worship began at the newly built site on Hallock Street in Jamestown during the early 1970's. For a 32-year span, from Chandler Street Baptist Church to Hillcrest, Evelyn weekly taught a 1st grade Sunday School class. In 1984, she was recognized and named Hillcrest's first Teacher of the Year. Throughout the seasons of her life, Evelyn enjoyed fishing with her husband, both of them or with others playing the board game Aggravation on a wooden or stainless steel board, with both boards having been made by her husband, enjoying regular family gatherings both in her home or theirs, personal Bible study, playing her guitar and harmonicas, writing poetry, solving word puzzles, reading, crocheting, participating in contests played on radio station WJTN, tending to flowers in her yard, and the list goes on. Evelyn and Betty LaGrange, who currently lives in North Carolina, were life-long pen pals, starting their mail and telephone correspondence when they were both only 11 years old. They have the same birth date of October 11, 1925. Over the course of their 86-year friendship, they met in person only 2 or 3 times, but shared common interests, especially their faith in God, writing poetry and family values. Evelyn is survived by her 4 daughters: Bonita Stanton (Gary), Karen Simmons (Roy), Sandra Bromley (Roger) and Valerie Terrill (Keith). She is also survived by grandchildren: Mark Stanton, Matthew Stanton, Laura (Stanton) Guay, David Stanton, Joshua Simmons, Jenny (Simmons) Kostera, Jacob Simmons, Norman Bromley, Jada (Terrill) Tellez-Martinez, Adria (Terrill) Cobb, Lydia (Terrill) Jacques, Micah Terrill, and several great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Evelyn's only surviving sibling is her younger brother, John Risley, Sr. Preceding Evelyn in death were her brother Russel in 1951, mother Gail in 1974, father Ivan in 1984, husband Frederick in 2004, sister Emma in 2009, both sisters Margaret and Ethel in 2011, and brother Harvey in 2012. Calling hours for Evelyn will be at the Lind Funeral Home, 805 W. 3rd Street, Jamestown, NY on Thursday, April 13th from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. On Friday, April 14th at Hillcrest Baptist Church, 40 Hallock Street in Jamestown, the funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M., with an hour of visitation being held just prior to the start of the service from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. The Rev. Mark Hinman will be officiating. Burial will be in the Gerry Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Hillcrest Baptist Church, 40 Hallock Street, Jamestown, NY, 14701.