Terry Baughn Farris

Terry Baughn Farris, 84, of the Union Chapel community, Union Grove, Alabama, entered Our Father’s eternal Kingdom of Heaven on December 18, 2024, after a brief stay at Shepherd’s Cove Hospice in Albertville, Alabama. He was surrounded by family and friends throughout the day. Mr. Farris was born December 2, 1940, in Double Springs, Alabama, to parents Ancel B. and Irene (Baughn) Farris, both originally from Double Springs. He is survived by his beloved wife, Kathryn Hornsby Farris; a son, Seon Farris, of Huntsville; a daughter, Sonya Farris Ott (Michael) of Madison; three grandchildren, Kailey Mosquito, and Kaleb and Kamryn Ott; a brother, Roger Farris, of Huntsville; several cousins, many nieces and nephews, and his lifelong, loving church family of Union Chapel. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister-in-law, Judy Farris. Terry graduated from Arab High School in 1958, and then attended Snead State Junior College, followed by Auburn University, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He later earned a Master’s Degree in Engineering Management from the Florida Institute of Technology. Terry was employed by the U.S. Army Redstone Test Center on Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, for 32 years, serving as a missile test engineer and manager. He retired from Federal service in 1999 after serving as Technical Director of the Test Center for a number of years. He was later employed by defense contractor ERC, Inc., serving as a contract manager, and retiring in 2007 as a company Vice President. Terry was very grateful for the opportunity to serve his country as an Army civilian employee, and then again with ERC to support the U.S. Department of Defense. Terry was a devoted member and regular attendee of the Union Chapel Church in Union Grove, Alabama, where he served the Lord in many different roles and capacities over the years, including service as Assistant Sunday School Superintendent; Methodist Lay Leader; Sunday School teacher; Youth Leader and Counselor; Administrative Board Member and various subcommittees; and prison ministry outreach. He also completed the Walk to Emmaus, and became a sponsor for other Walk to Emmaus servants. Outside of his work and numerous church activities, Terry loved spending time with his children and grandchildren; reading his Bible; traveling with Kathryn to various destinations in America and abroad; researching his ancestry with his brother, Roger; studying American Civil War history; and watching old movies, especially ‘Westerns’. Terry’s paternal grandfather, Oakley John Farris, lived to 100 years of age, for which he received a letter from President Ronald Reagan; and over the course of their research, Terry and Roger discovered that Oakley’s grandfather, Willis Farris, was the first Sheriff of Winston County, dating back to the 1850’s. Terry was an avid Auburn University football and basketball fan, and he loved to attend games in person whenever he could. He and Kathryn attended Auburn’s National Championship game of 2010 in person at the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix, Arizona, which was a fun highlight of his decades of Auburn fandom. Visitation will be at Union Chapel Church on Sunday, December 22, 2024, from 1:30 – 3:00 pm; service to follow at 3:00 pm, with Pastor David Norton officiating and Arab Heritage Memorial Chapel directing. Interment will be at Edgewood Cemetery, Grassy Church of Christ of Union Grove. Pallbearers are Michael Ott, Kaleb Ott, Jeff Farris, Ben Hornsby, Alan Ashburn, and Clint Gilbertson. Honorary Pallbearers are the Rev. Douglas Martin (ret.), Alton Lamons, Lynn Taylor, and Rodger Edmonds. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations in Terry’s memory to the Union Chapel Youth Fund or Shepherd’s Cove Hospice.

Terry Baughn Farris

December 2, 1940 - December 18, 2024