Charles Richard Farr

Long Lake

Charles Richard "Dick" Farr, age 85 of Long Lake, NY, died Easter morning, April 4th, 2021. There was not a business owner, worker or local official within a 100-mile radius that Richard did not joyously greet, he know their name, their job, their family and children. He cared for them as fellow Adirondackers, they were his community and each a special friend. Dick was a true native of the Adirondacks, other than a summer living in a boxcar on a siding in Sabattus, NY as a baby (his father was the local forest ranger there) and a short time on active duty in the US Army, he lived, worked and died within a few hundred feet of the home where he was born. One of Long Lake’s great story tellers, a wealth of local history, news from the grapevine and folklore, he would hold court most every morning for coffee at his local Stewart’s.

Life in the Adirondacks has never been easy, Richard worked all his life as a logger, trucker, sawmill operator, caretaker, enjoyed this way of life and never forgot his roots. Dick also gave back to the community in many ways. As a bus driver at Long Lake Central School for 39 years where he lovingly looked after generations of local school children. Richard served as the Town Long Lake’s Highway Superintendent for 8 years and was a long-time member of the Long Lake Lions, being its president many times and a member of the Lions state’s governing body.  As a driver of the town’s “Little Bus” he took community members for shopping and swimming.  Never one to waste a trip to Tupper, he often ran errands or picked up prescriptions for others. He served on the Hamilton County Democratic Committee and for years as a poll working for the County Election Board. He was a seven-year (Korean War era) veteran of the New York National Guard where he obtained the rank of Staff Sergeant while serving in a MASH (mobile hospital) unit out of Tupper Lake, NY. St. Henry’s Catholic Church in Long Lake was a very important sustaining focus his entire life where he was one of the church’s trustees, an usher, lector and a member of the Parish Council. Based on an ancestor’s service in the American Civil War, Richard gained membership in the Col. George Willard Camp 154 of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War where he was Camp’s flag bearer for a number of years and attended state Encampments. Golf was his game, his official hole-in-one at the Wakley Golf Course was a much-mentioned achievement.

Mr. Farr was the son for the late Charles H. and Virginia Helms Farr and brother to the late James and David Farr. He is survived by two sisters, Jean Plumley and her husband Lew and Judy Garrison and her husband Dave. He is also survived by three children from his first marriage to Linda Farr of Waterloo, NY, they include Charles “Chip” Farr of Long Lake, Felicia Cesarini of Waterloo, NY and Sally Skinner and her husband Mark of Shortsville, NY. A stepson John Walker by his second marriage to the late Pauline Walker. Nearest and dearest was Judy Nerey his long-time loving companion. There are five grandchildren: Leslie Farr, Mathew and Rachel Skinner and Paige and Jacob Dahl. In addition, there are great grandchildren, nieces and nephews all of whom he was very proud.

Graveside services will be conducted at 12 Noon Saturday, April 17, 2021 at Long Lake Cemetery.

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