Obituary of Thomas Duane Farris
It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that the family of Rocky Farris share the news of his sudden passing, Sunday morning, July 21, 2024, in Gridley, California.
He was born in Yuba City on May 23, 1957, and attended all Gridley schools. He played football in High School, Pig Pop during his Firefighter years and Semi Pro for the Cougars in Yuba City. He was 1 of 16 brothers and sisters.
Rocky had many hobbies and several careers throughout his life. He started as a “shade tree” mechanic at a young age with his father. He worked for many local farmers as a teen in several different orchards, driving a rice harvester and bank out for Rudd and Cardoza Farms. He was head line-mechanic at McConnell Ford, water tender for Butte Water District. He opened and managed the first Roundtable Pizza in Gridley.
He was a Volunteer Firefighter for GFD and back up Maintenance for Butte County Fair for several seasons. He set up and helped manage the CRCHA (Snaffle Bit Futurity) in Reno after the fair ended. He was a Route Manager for Interstate Batteries, before owning and operating 2 Health Food Stores with his wife in Folsom and Sacramento. He was a glass bender for a prestigious Neon Glass Company in Corona. He opened and (often managed) 9 Home Depots in California, Oregon and Washington, along with 6 Lowes HIW in California.
He loved to go fishing and camping and getaways to the ocean. He achieved a long-time dream, when he went cross country on his motorcycle, visiting family and enjoying the scenery. His green thumb brought a bountiful garden yearly and loved sharing his produce with family and friends. He never missed a day feeding his hummingbirds.
His love for NASCAR took him sidelines with his son yearly to Sonoma Raceway. He drove a car many years in the Destruction Derby and loved cattle round up with his dear friend for Johnson Cattle Ranch. He stayed up nights during Festa season cooking Sopas and was always available to help a friend when needed to fix a vehicle, mend a fence or build a barn.
He loved Classic Rock and often ventured on long drives to inhale the scenery.
He was preceded in death by his parents Garland “Sonny” and Elva Farris, brothers James, Keith, Wendell, and Mark Allen and a sister Dece. He is survived by the love of his life, wife Lynne, his son Chuck (Heather) of Sonora and daughter Jessica of Gridley, 6 grandchildren: Dimitre, Phoenix, Blaize, Valor, Aurora (Sonora) and Hespera (Gridley) and newest addition, his first great-grandchild Naomi Olivia, and multiple nieces and nephews. His surviving sib - lings include Terry Keck (Kentucky), Sandy Sanders (Oroville), Larry Farris (Kentucky), Jennifer Morton (North Dakota), Paula Cox (Jerry) Montana, Virginia Henriksen (Yuba City), Patty Hitch (Washington), Kevin Farris (Won Lee) (Philippines), Marty Farris (Oroville), and Margaret Trainor (Kentucky).
His love of life, beaming smile and unique laughter was highly contagious. He is and will be greatly missed. A Celebration of Life will be announced in the Fall.
Arrangements entrusted to Gridley-Block Funeral Chapel.