James "Jim" Russell Farris

James (Jim) Russell Farris, 87, of Abilene, passed away at his home on Saturday, October 12th, 2024.  He is survived by his three daughters, Gwendolyn Farris of Abilene, Texas, Elizabeth and Allison Farris of Richardson, Texas, and extended members of his family. Visitation with the family will be Thursday, October 17th, 2024 from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Piersall Funeral Directors, 733 Butternut Street, Abilene, Texas. Graveside service will be at 10:00 at the Annetta Cemetery, 2667 West Farm to Market Road 5, in Annetta, Texas.

Jim was an only child of parents who both came from large families. He grew up with Cousins whom he thought of as Brothers, and developed a great love of travel in his lifetime because of trips during his youth, to visit family.

Jim was a graduate of Hardin Simmons University, where he met and married his wife, Mava (who passed in February of this year) in 1962.  They were married almost 62 years.

After the birth of their first daughter in 1963, Jim continued his education with a Master's Degree in Geology from Baylor University. During his life, he was a member of the Geological Society of America and the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.

Jim's work as a Geologist took him and his family to many places. Many family trips took them across the deep South, the Southwest, Northeast, on many family trips. But when it came time to leave one employer for another, Jim and Mava always looked at the search for a new job as a divine appointment. They took the family where God had a purpose for them. They lived in Denton, Texas when Jim worked for Acme Brick, Grand Junction, Colorado for the Atomic Energy Commission, Athens, Ohio for Southern Ohio Coal, and back home to Abilene, Texas for Sun Oil, and later as an Independent Geologist, always serving in local Churches where they were living.

Jim had a deep love for the things of this earth that God created, and collected many beautiful mineral samples, sharing his knowledge with his daughters. He was a jack-of-all trades Mr. Fix-it and loved working on his cars or any handyman issue needed around the house. He had a great love for photography and martial arts, and was accomplished at both.

Jim was an accomplished artist, as well. The sketch books from his youth include illustrations of the Abilene High School Eagle, one which was chosen to be used on what is known as the current AHS building. His class in 1955 was the last to use the old high school, now called Abilene Heritage Square.

He had a great love of studying God's word as attested by his personal library, and used that knowledge to work with his wife in Prison Ministry. When his wife became actively involved with the Texas Prisons Field Minister Program at the Robertson Unit, he assisted her in the creation and participation of the first Interdenominational Church Support group with Heart of Texas Foundation to support Field Ministers at Robertson in Abilene, and helped make it possible for the program to have the necessary material for education and faith-based classes.

As we moved around the country, Jim and Mava regularly participated in church government, at Bookcliff Baptist Church, Grand Junction, CO, Rolling Hills Baptist Church, Athens, OH where he participated in the expansion building of their Church, and at their present church membership, Elmcrest Baptist Church in Abilene, Texas, particularly in the Church's Prayer Ministry.

In his latter years, health brought Jim to being increasingly homebound, but now he is free from all the pain of this life and is with his beloved wife, in heaven with Christ.