John Farrell Walker

Sept. 8, 1931 – Feb. 1, 2014

John Farrell Walker, 82, died while surrounded by family following a brief illness on Feb. 1, 2014, in Port Angeles, Wash.Farrell was born in Lovell Sept. 8, 1931, the fourth child of Merl Boyce and Enola Thaxton Walker. He attended school in Lovell. His exceptional reading ability allowed him to read and retain at an extremely rapid rate, which resulted in boredom at school. To keep him interested in school, one of his elementary teachers had him catch mice in the school while the other students were completing their work.He lived in Lovell until 1950 when he joined the Army. After returning from Korea in 1952 he married Miriam Alice (Sally) Black and moved to Cheyenne. He spent 1952-1953 in the Air National Guard. Upon discharge he and Sally returned to Lovell and began their family. While in Lovell, Farrell worked as a mechanic at Robertson Motor Co.The family moved to Salt Lake City, where John worked as a diesel mechanic and raised seven children. His marriage to Sally ended in divorce in 1971. Farrell moved many times over the next several years, living in Washington State, Wyoming and Utah before finally returning to the Olympic Peninsula in Washington in 2000, where he spent the remainder of his life.Farrell had quite a sense of humor and never missed an opportunity to pull a prank.He is survived by a son, James F. Walker of Idaho Falls, Idaho; daughters Debra Charon and Linda (Keith) Sowders, both of Port Angeles, Marilyn (Morris) Sedies, Gerry (Ken) Reader, Cheryl Morgan and Joan (Ed) Garza, all of Idaho Falls; brothers Wayne (Marva) Walker, Dennis (Dorothy) Walker and Dale (Carol) Walker of Lovell; sisters June Wood of Havre, Mont., Eunice Wardell of Centerville, Utah, Charla (Darrell) Asay of Billings and Bonnie (Mac) Wardell of Otto; 22 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins.He was preceded in death by his parents, Merl and Enola Walker, and brothers-in-law Fenton Wood and Callis Wardell.At his request, cremation has taken place and there will be no services.