This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: wcr1951_1 Surnames: Faris, Ellingson, Webber, Johnson, Ellefson Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.farris/2751/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Johnson City Press Johnson City, TN April 7, 2007 Jerry Faris - JOHNSON CITY Jerry L. Faris, 70, of Johnson City, passed away on Thursday April 5, 2007, at the James H. Quillen nursing home, Mountain Home, TN, after a brief battle with terminal cancer. He was born May 8, 1936, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and was the son of Elmer and Thelma Ellingson Faris, of Flandreau, South Dakota. He graduated from Flandreau High School in 1954 and went on to attend and graduate from South Dakota State University in 1959 with an undergraduate degree in Applied Social Sciences. He graduated from the University of Denver with a Master's degree in Social Work in 1965 and went on to work various social work programs within the state of South Dakota and later with the Veterans Administration in both Houston, Texas, and Mountain Home, TN. He retired from the James H. Quillen Veterans Medical Center in June of 2006 after compassionately serving veterans for 17 years. A lifelong member of the 1-147th Field Artillery, South Dakota Army National Guard, from September 9, 1952, to June 10, 1989. He served his time in the enlisted ranks for 12 years and during that time was activated and sent to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, for the Berlin Crises. In October of 1963, he took his commission as a field artillery officer after completing the state Officer Candidate School. Known to many as "Big Red," Lieutenant Colonel Faris finished out his military career on Title 10 as a Mobilization Plans Officer serving in both Fort Campbell and Fort Sheridan respectively. He spent his life serving God, his country and family. He is survived by his children: Colonel Jill K. Faris and husband, Major Steven P. Webber, of Beavercreek, Ohio; Joy S. Johnson and husband, Darin Johnson, of Pierre, South Dakota; Joni T. Faris and husband, Jose Vizcarrondo, of Dorado, Puerto Rico; Christi B. Faris, of Jonesborough; his sister, Glenda Faris Ellefson and husband, Bob, of Mitchell, South Dakota. He is also survived by nine grandchildren. The family will receive friends on Monday, April 9th, from 12-2 PM at the funeral home and a Celebration of Life service will be held later that day at 6 PM at the Cornerstone Church with Dr. Barry Burns, minister, officiating. A memorial service will be held at a later date in Flandreau, South Dakota. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Mr. Faris' name to James H. Quillen VAMC, c/o Volunteer Services, P.O. Box 4000, Mountain Home, TN 37684. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.tetrickfuneralhome.com. Arrangements for the Faris family are under the care of Tetrick Funeral Services, 3001 Peoples Street, Johnson City, TN. (423) 610-7171 Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.