Alice Marlene Farmer, devoted wife and loving mother, lost her long battle with dementia. She was 80.

Marlene was born Feb 26, 1933 to Bill & Alice Snook, on their family farm near Golden City. She grew up fishing and playing with her older sister, Joan. She attended Golden City High School, graduating in 1951. In 1953, Marlene married George Farmer. They spent 60 years together.

George & Marlene moved to Carthage, MO in 1956. They lived in Casa Grande, AZ, from 1959 to 1962, then returned to Carthage. They have lived there ever since.

Marlene had three children; Mary Bruffett, of Joplin, MO; Karen Farmer of Granbury, TX; and Bruce Farmer of Duenweg, MO. She has been blessed with six grandchildren; Dustin Bruffett, Kristin Fritchman, Nicholas Nappier, Katherine Laster, Breanna Farmer, and Abigail Farmer.

Marlene attended Art School and in 1954 she went to work at Newman's Department Store as a commercial artist. Aside from a three year hiatus in Arizona, Marlene worked there as a commercial artist until Newman's closed in 1989. The remainder of her working years were spent at Leggett & Platt, also as a commercial artist.

Marlene loved the outdoors, travel, sightseeing, sports, animals, rocks, and fishing. She was a lifelong fan of the St Louis Cardinals, a coin collector, and a collector of interesting rocks and fossils. In her younger years, she was frequently outside, showing her children the wonders of the natural world, and fishing. Marlene was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church in the communities where she lived. She taught her children to love and trust the Lord and to love and rely on Christ.

If Marlene had a vice, it was ice cream.

Marlene is survived by her husband, George Farmer of Carthage, MO; her sister Joan Oglesby of Lamar, MO; her three children and six grandchildren noted above.

Visitation will be held from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Dwecember 17, 2013 at the Carthage United Methodist Church. Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 18, 2013 at the Carthage United Methodist Church in Carthage, MO. Internment will be at Lake Cemetary in Lamar, MO. Memorial contributions can be made to Alzheimers Association.