Ovella N. Farris , 86, passed away Wednesday, June 6, 2012, in Noble.

Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Havenbrook Funeral Home chapel, with internment following in the Noble IOOF Cemetery.

She was born Sept. 29, 1925, to first-generation German/Austrian immigrants Clara Rose Freyer Weber and Emil Weber, who settled in western Oklahoma, where a small German community developed. Ovella did not speak English until she went to school. She was raised in Salem Baptist Church near Gotebo. During WWII after high school graduation, she moved to Norman and worked at McCall's Coffee Shop until her father fell from a tree on the farm and broke his back. Ovella returned home to work the farm for her family.

She met her future husband in December 1946 at Salem Baptist Church when his Army buddy brought him to visit after they'd both returned from Paris, France, when the war was over. James Rayford Farris and Ovella Nadine Weber were married May 9, 1947. They had three children before the family moved to Norman in 1953. Ray worked at Gordon's Speciality, and Ovella ironed for several families to help save money so yhey could start their own business. In 1959, they started Ray's Automatic Applicance Clinic. She went to night school to earn an accounting degree in bookkeeping to assist Ray in their new business.

They attended First Baptist Church in Norman, then Bethel Baptist Church to help get the mission church established. In later years, they returned to First Baptist Church and became active volunteers at the Family Life Center. Ovella was a strong Christian, dedicated wife and mother. She was an amazing cook, preparing everything from scratch. She cooked three full meals daily, raised three children, kept up their home and ran a very successful business for 40 years. She loved her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a true Proverbs 31 woman.

Ovella was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Ray, of 61 years.

She is survived by her sister, Berniece Morris and husband Scotty of Norman; daughter, Patricia Roberts and husband David of Tulsa; son, James Rayford Farris Jr. and wife Deborah of Norman; son, Billy W. Farris of Norman; grandchildren Kelly Wilson and husband Travis and their children Nathan, Natalie and Carter of Norman, Kristin Rae Roller and husband Josh and their children Delaney, Annabelle and Emery of Fayetteville, Ark., James Rayford Farris III and wife Celina and their children Echo, Jack and Gabriel of Noble, and Christopher D. Roberts of Stephenville, Texas.

Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.

Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, with the family greeting friends at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Arrangements are under the direction of Havenbrook Funeral Home in Norman.

Online condolences may be shared at www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com.

Obit for James posted by Phil & Donna (Stricklan) Whitaker
Aug 13, 1923 - Jul 27, 2008

James Ray "Rayford" Farris, Sr., 84, of Norman, Oklahoma, died July 27, 2008, in Norman, Oklahoma.

Family will greet friends and relatives during visitation from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M.,, Tuesday, July 29, 2008, at Havenbrook Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held at 12:00 Noon,
Wednesday, July 30, 2008, at First Baptist Church of Norman with Reverend Dale Gies officiating.

Interment will follow at Noble I.O.O.F. Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Havenbrook Funeral Home of Norman, Oklahoma.

Mr. Farris was born August 13, 1923, in Valiant, Oklahoma, to Elmer Delonie and Alice
Irene (Stephenson) Farris. James was introduced to his wife, Ovella Nadine Weber, at Salem Baptist Church in Gotebo in February 1947 and they were married at the same church on May 9, 1947. The couple lived in Cooperton in Kiowa County before moving to Norman in 1953. Mr. Farris served in the Army for 18 months, serving in Paris, France with the 383 M.P. Battalion. He received the Meritorious Unit Award, the World War II Victory Medal and the Occupation Germany Medal. After his service, he worked for Gordon's Speciality for six years before starting his own business, Ray's Automatic Appliance Clinic in 1959, which he ran until his retirement.

Mr. Farris was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and one brother.

Survivors include his wife, Ovella Nadine Farris, of Norman; daughter, Patricia Roberts and husband, David, of Tulsa, OK; two sons, James R. Farris, Jr. and wife, Deborah, and Billy W. Farris, both of Norman; brother, David Farris and wife, Sandy, of Ardmore, OK and sister, Berniece Morris and husband, Scotty, of Norman; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

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