Rev. James H. Farnsley

Rev. James H. Farnsley, 75, of Shelbyville passed away Monday, December 7, 2009 at 1:30 a.m. at St. Francis Hospital in Beech Grove. Born August 18, 1934 in Floyd County, he was the son of John Fern and Thelma Faye (Davis) Farnsley. He married Joann (Myer) Farnsley on August 22, 1954, and she survives. Other survivors include his children, John (wife, Barbara) Farnsley and Mark (wife, Carmen) Farnsley, all of Shelbyville; brothers, Kenneth Paul (wife, Judy) Farnsley of Georgetown, Phillip Bruce (wife, Cynthia) of Shelbyville and Harold (wife, Doreen) Farnsley of Minden, Nevada; sisters, Edna Mae (husband, Leonard) Woods of Owensville and Thelma Fern (husband, Jon) Beck of Indianapolis; grandchildren, Michael Andrew (wife, Sarah)Farnsley of Naperville, Illinois, Brian James Farnsley, Jonathan Arthur Farnsley, KayAnn Lynn Farnsley and Caroline Grace Farnsley, all of Shelbyville; and several nieces and nephews. Mr. Farnsley graduated from Georgetown High Schoo, attended University of Indianapolis, and graduated from Indiana State University and Butler University. He was a teacher and an administrator for Shelbyville Central Schools for twenty-nine years, retiring in 1993. He also pastored several rural churches for fifty-seven years that included Clifford Congregational, Bethlehem E.U.B., North Union E.U.B., Union chapel E.U.B., Big Flatrock Christian, Blue Ridge Christian Union and West Side Wesleyan. He was currently serving as Pastor of Care at Shelbyville Community Church, where he led the Seasoned Seniors. One of his passions was providing a Christian Radior Broadcast, The Hour of Challenge, on local radio stations for thirty-five years. Mr. Farnsley was a United States Army veteran serving from 1958 to 1961 in Norfolk, Virginia. Rev. Farnsley found purpose and happiness in preaching the gospel, serving, helping others and leaving a Christian legacy for his family. He also enjoyed working on the family farm. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Freeman Family Funeral Homes and Cremator, Carmony-Ewing Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Shelbyville Community Church, with Pastors Brad Davis and Jason Chenoweth officiating. Interment will be in Hanover Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Shelbyville Community Church, 720 North 325 East, Shelbyville, Indiana 46176.