James (Jim) Lee Farney, 82, of Salina, Kansas, passed into his eternal home on Friday, July 18, 2025. He was born on December 8, 1942 in Hutchinson, Kansas to Harvey and Viola (Kleck) Farney.
Jim was raised to love and serve the Lord and attended, with his family, the Sterling Mennonite Church. He accepted the Lord as his Savior at a revival meeting as a youth. He served faithfully on boards and committees in whatever church he was attending, and was a current member of First Covenant Church, Salina.
Jim attended Union 5 Grade School, rural Sterling and Nickerson High School, graduating in 1960. He graduated from Sterling College in 1964 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education, and Emporia State University with a Master’s Degree in Physical Education in 1968. He taught school and coached for 15 years at various Kansas schools: North Reno, Hutchinson; Alma; Towanda; and Leon.
He loved sports, especially basketball and tennis, and played on the school teams in high school and college. His position as guard proved him to be a feisty player on the basketball court. After retirement, he enjoyed attending Kansas Wesleyan basketball and volleyball games. When he wasn’t playing on the court, he enjoyed watching any sport that was on television.
He married Donna Mehl in 1964. Two children, Jeffrey James and Darcy Lynn, were adopted into this union. He married LaVonne Anderson in 1983 and she survives.
In 1989, Jim was hired as the fifth employee at Kejr Engineering (now Geoprobe), Salina, working there for 21 years until his retirement in 2010.
He was raised on a farm and worked alongside his dad and brother (and uncles/cousins) with livestock and in the field. That love of farming continued throughout his lifetime.
Jim received the Gift of Extended Life on November 9, 2016 when he had a liver transplant. He was 73 at that time, and his donor was 80 years old! What an incredible gift!
Jim is survived by LaVonne, his wife of 42 years; his daughter Darcy (Doug Krier), Beloit; granddaughters Molly, Lawrence; and Joslynn, Beloit; brother, Robert Farney, Hutchinson, KS; sisters Donna Broadus, Hutchinson, KS, and Shirley Marlow, Aurora, CO; brother-in law Leland Anderson (Patsy), DeLand FL, nieces Diane Thompson (Gary), Gayle Fehr (Rick), Janet Marlow, Keva Farney, Debra Lemons (Tim), and Wendy Anderson, and nephews Jack Farney (Kay), Mark Broadus (Nancy Dye), and David Marlow (Nancy).
He was preceded in death by his son Jeff in 2023, his parents, nephew Tyler Farney, brothers-in-law Jerry Broadus, Robert Marlow, and sister-in-law Lavonne Farney.
Visitation will be Thursday July 24, 4-8 p.m. with family present from 6-8 p.m. at Ryan Mortuary, Salina. The burial will be Friday July 25, 9:30 a.m. at Mission Hill Cemetery, Rural Smolan followed by a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. at First Covenant Church, Salina. Pastor Tyler Henoch officiating. Luncheon will follow the memorial service. The memorial service will be livestreamed at Firstcov.link/watch
Memorials may be made to Mission Hill Cemetery or First Covenant Church in care of Ryan Mortuary, 137 N 8TH St. Salina, KS 67401.