Conward Farris, longtime Kennewick educator, passed into glory on November 17, 2014. He celebrated his 90th birthday on June 1st of this year. In 1954, Conward along with his wife, Bernadean, and their two children, Pamela and Michael, moved to Kennewick from Timbo, Arkansas, the small Ozark village where he had been born. Conward was raised on a farm, the oldest child of Ulis and Flossie Farris. He had four siblings: Fay Farris (Tulsa, OK), May Farris Wallace (Fifty-Six, AR), Jenina Farris Henderson (Mountain View, AR), and Lonnie Farris who passed away a few years back. Conward served in the United States Army in World War II with service in the South Pacific including a stint on Okinawa. He also served in the Arkansas National Guard after leaving the Army. Thanks to the GI Bill, he was able to become the first member of his family to go to college. He graduated from Arkansas State Teacher's College in 1952 and was immediately employed to teach and coach basketball in his home town of Timbo. Farris moved to Kennewick on the advice of a college friend who told him that teachers in Washington State made $400 a month whereas teachers in Arkansas were making $200 a month. He taught at fifth and sixth grades first at the old administrative building and then at Hawthorne Elementary 1954 to 1959. He was promoted to principal at Eastgate Elementary in 1959 shortly after earning his Master's degree from Eastern Washington State College. He served at Eastgate for nineteen years until he was named the first principal of Canyon View Elementary in 1978 where he served until his retirement in 1983. His life was changed dramatically by a series of unexpected events shortly after his arrival in Kennewick. A traveling evangelist who conducted his services in a large, circus-like tent asked to rent the Kennewick High School auditorium because his tent was destroyed in a windstorm. Farris had received a temporary job as janitor for the summer of 1954 and was assigned to be the custodian on duty during the evangelistic services. Conward accepted Jesus as his Savior during those services on Friday, August 13, 1954. His wife came to faith shortly thereafter. He said, "that Friday the 13th was the luckiest day of my life." The young couple joined Kennewick First Baptist Church, which was the home church of the head custodian who had deliberately chosen Farris to be on duty during the evangelistic meetings. Conward served in many capacities at First Baptist including Church Moderator, Chairman of Deacons, and Sunday School Superintendent. He remained a member of the same church (although the church is now known as South Hills Church) until the end of his life—for over 60 years. After arriving in Kennewick, Conward and Bernadean had two more children, Thomas and Deanna. All four Farris children graduated from Kennewick High School. All four of his children have followed their father in a personal Christian faith and all have been active in various Christian ministries. Pamela Farris Cavallo lives in Yakima where she recently retired as a teacher with the Yakima School District. Michael Farris, lives in Purcellville, Virginia, where he is Chancellor of Patrick Henry College. Thom Farris lives in Joyce, Washington, where he is engaged in the fruit brokerage business. Deanna Farris Brown lives in Kennewick and is the owner-manager of the Tri-City Bible Book Store—a position previously held by her mother. Conward is also survived by 19 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren who live in various parts of Washington, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. A memorial service will be held at South Hills Church on Saturday, November 22, 2014 at 11 a.m. The church is located at 3700 W. 27th Avenue in Kennewick. All are welcome—especially his former students and fellow educators. One former student captured the spirit of Conward Farris in the following Facebook post directed to one of his children. "I am sad to hear this. I know we will all see him again when we see our Heavenly Father. I will always remember Conward Farris with a smile. He was a fine man, a great example of a good Christian who walked the walk not just the talk. I have shared your post so other students of his, like me, will see this information. When I was a young grade schooler, your daddy always kept us kids safe, and let us know he cared for us, as did Jesus. He was a good witness to us all as youngsters, and I will always have a fondness in my heart for him and your mother Bernadean. You can be very proud of the man you called daddy!"