Phyllis "Nell" Wynell Farrish's Obituary
Phyllis Wynell Farrish, better known by her friends as Nell and her grandchildren as Nana, has been reunited with her husband Frank Farrish.
She leaves behind a son Darren and his wife Carla, a daughter Holly Ryan and husband David, grandchildren Nick Farrish(Tasha), Mary Beth Toland(Drew), Madison Roberts(Blake) and Kennedy Bedford, great-grandchildren Owen Berthelson, Sam and Noah Farrish, Adeline and Watson Toland and Roman Roberts whom Nana shared a July 30th birthday. Also a sister-in-law Jane Dunlap and many nieces, nephews and extended family.
Nell was an avid reader. She lived her life like the many books she read – it had lots of chapters. In some she was the central comedic figure, and in others she was reminiscent of Eugenia ‘Skeeter’ in The Help. In several she echoed the adventurous nature of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, and her final chapters channeled Of Mice and Men in that they were absolute tear jerkers.
While she spent her early years in West Texas, she met the love of her life, Frank, and moved to the Mississippi Delta. Living in Greenwood, Mississippi she was a bit feisty and rebellious and always had a different perspective on life in the South and its many idiosyncrasies. Frank and Nell eventually left Mississippi and moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas to raise their family.
Nell lived most of her adult life in Fayetteville, Arkansas. While she left Arkansas on several occasions - like the touchstone in Raiders of the Lost Ark – she always found her way back to Fayetteville.
Nell ended her work career at the University of Arkansas. At this point, Frank had passed away and Darren and Holly had started their own families. During this time, she traveled extensively and realized she was a gypsy at heart. Material possessions meant nothing to her and new experiences and time with family and friends meant everything.
The Of Mice and Men chapter sadly began when Nell developed Alzheimers. She battled this terrible disease for many years and finally achieved peace with her passing on May 5th, 2023. In confirmation of her gypsy soul, Nell’s last request was for her beloved daughter-in-law Carla to help Nell find her car - she had places to go and people to see.
In lieu of flowers and in honor of Nell’s lifelong love of reading, the family kindly requests that donations be made to the Fayetteville Public Library Foundation.
Fayetteville Public Library Foundation
401 West Mountain Street
Fayetteville, AR 72701
In Memory of Nell Farrish
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