Jerry Robert Farthing, 85, of Mount Vernon, Illinois, passed away at 12:24 am at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mount Vernon, Illinois. Mr. Farthing attended Southern Illinois University and graduated from Kentucky College in 1956 with his Associates Degree in Mortuary Science. He passed the national board examination and registered with the Conference of Funeral Service Examining Board in 1956 and became a Licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer in 1957. Jerry began his career at Myers Funeral Home in Mount Vernon where he worked for twenty-six years. He then began working at Hughey Funeral Home in 1983, where he has worked for over thirty-five years. Jerry proudly served in the United States Army from September 22, 1959 to September 21, 1961 with eighteen months of time in Turkey. Jerry was a life member of Central Christian Church and the Mount Vernon Elks Lodge #819. He was also a member of the Jefferson County Historical Society, AMVETS Post #4 since 1975, American Legion Post #141, Mount Vernon Lodge #31 A.F. A.M., Andrew Webb Chapter #160 Royal, Arch Masons – Patton Commandery #69, Knights Templar, former member Scottish Rite Valley of Southern Illinois, Jefferson County Shrine Club, and Ainad Shrine Temple of East St. Louis, Illinois.
A Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 2, 2021 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at Hughey Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, Illinois. A Funeral Service will begin at 1:00 pm. Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Mount Vernon, Illinois. Memorials may be made in Jerry’s honor to the Jefferson County Shrine Club or Central Christian Church.Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information.
Jerry is survived by his very special friend, Martha Poston of Mount Vernon, Illinois; cousins, Terry Dunkel and husband, Frank, Sharon Mowrer and husband, Curt, David Guthrie and wife, Rhonda all of Mount Vernon, Illinois; special friends, Lisa Freytag Ellis and husband, John, Karen Freytag Mayberry and husband, Rick of Mount Vernon, Illinois, and extended family at Hughey Funeral Home.
He was born August 18, 1936 in Mount Vernon, Illinois to the late Melvin Tracy and Anna “Marge” Marguerite (Ayers) Farthing. Jerry married Bonnie Sherwood on May 15, 1965 at Central Christian Church in Mount Vernon, Illinois by Mr. Herbert J. Wilson. They celebrated their fiftieth anniversary on May 15, 2015. They were blessed with nearly two more years of marriage before Bonnie preceded him in death on January 13, 2017. In addition to his parents and wife, Jerry was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Jill Farthing and special friend, Shirley Wielt.
