Farrell grew up in Carter, Oklahoma, and graduated from Carter High School in 1952, where he earned several varsity letters in baseball and basketball. He married Y’Vaughan Hankins in Carter on December 26, 1953. They both graduated from Oklahoma A&M University in May 1956. Farrell later earned a Master’s degree from New Mexico University in 1963 and another Master’s from Emporia State University.

For 31 years, Farrell worked as a teacher, coach, and principal in high schools in Oklahoma and Kansas, impacting the lives of thousands of students. He was active in summer sports programs, often coaching teams of his three children. He made it a point to attend all of their school and extracurricular activities, even those in college and graduate school.

After retiring from Mc-Loud Public Schools, Farrell continued teaching at Oklahoma State University, OKC, and Rose State College, where he focused on mathematics.

As a dedicated husband and father, Farrell cherished spending time with his children. He loved teaching them, coaching their sports, and being a supportive presence in their lives. One particularly popular activity was the ongoing driveway basketball game. One on one, or three on two, it was a year-round event, weather permitting, often continuing until darkness forced its suspension. Farrell spent individual hours with each of his children teaching them to throw, catch, bat, field, dribble, and shoot. He designed and built devices to help them properly learn the skill being taught. He would also teach them proper technique to play the particular position that they would play on their teams. When he coached others, he exhibited the same sincerity of teaching and training as he did with his children. Above all, he was instilling in those young women and men the responsibility of being a member of a team and individual devotion to excellence.

As his children started their own families, he took joy in watching his granddaughters grow and embark on their own journeys. He instilled in them, as he had in his children, the values of education, commitment to family, excelling in academics and chosen fields of extracurricular activities, as well as values of integrity and dedication.

Farrell loved to travel and was fortunate to have many amazing trips with Y’Vaughan. He cherished time with his family and always made an effort to connect with each member as the family expanded. He had a passion for holidays, family gatherings, baseball, fishing, and Oklahoma football. As a coach, he helped create champions both on the field and in life. He supported former students in their goals of getting into graduate programs and finding jobs in both private and government sectors.

Farrell maintained a positive outlook and inspired that same attitude in his family and the schools and groups that he was a part of. He consistently motivated his students and players to pursue their dreams and not let challenges stop them from reaching their goals.

He is survived by his son Rodney and daughter-inlaw Lori Ramsey, daughter Stacy and son-in-law Glenn Neuman, daughter Dr. Dana and son-in-law Reece Morrel, Jr., granddaughters Julianne Ramsey, Alayne Morrel, Grace Neuman, Hannah Morrel, Sister- in-law Karen and brother- in-law J.C. Chadwick, and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and their children. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Betty Jean Ramsey Willowby, brothers Charles Dale Ramsey, David Ray Ramsey, and granddaughter Rachel Courtney Morrel.

A graveside service will take place at Carter Cemetery on December 14, 2024, at 1 PM. A Celebration of Life service will be held at Smith & Kernke, 14624 North May Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on December 28, 2024, starting at 1 PM.