Joseph Grant Farley, son of Leslie and Marie Farley, was born February 15, 1951, in San Carlos, Arizona. Died April 25, 2023, in Tucson, Arizona.
Joe attended the Thatcher Schools from grade school through his junior year in high school when he moved with this mom and dad to Tucson, where he graduated from Rincon High School. He later had the opportunity to attend Brigham Young University for one year where he went to Hawaii with the university to drive truck for the Dole Pineapple Company. People were surprised when he would talk about that adventure.
Later, the family moved to Yuma, Arizona, where he worked with his brother-in law, Chris Layton, on his farm bailing hay. He also worked summers on the Layton Ranch outside of Eager, Arizona. While living in Yuma, he had a pool cleaning business. Joe loved his clients, and they loved him and the job he performed for them.
Joe moved back to Safford in 2002 after the passing of his father, Leslie Farley in 2002, to live with his sister, Jessica. He worked for Wal-Mart before his retirement due to illness. Joe was very particular with his job, and everything had to be just right. His father taught him how to work.
Joe loved the birds, and rabbits and things found in the desert. He had a shy smile and a great chuckle for those who knew him. Simple and childlike was the way he lived. He loved astronomy and space; he could tell you when the space station was going to cross over Safford.
Joe is survived by: his sisters, Joyce Farley Layton, Judy Farley, Jessica Farley Sandeno; and adopted sister, Ruth Smith; he had combined 9 nieces and nephews and 31 great-nieces and nephews.
Every day he would come for his medication and after taking his medications he would stand and say, “well, that’s it.”
And that is how he lived his life, one day at a time—— “Well That’s It.”
He was loved by his family, and we will miss him.
Graveside services for Joe will be conducted Friday, April 28, 2023, at 3:30 p.m., in the Thatcher Cemetery by Bishop Rob Merrill of the Safford 8th Ward.
Online condolences may be offered at www.viningfuneralhome.com
Arrangements are entrusted to Vining Funeral Home.
