Martin DeWayne Farnworth, 85, passed away July 25, 2009, at the Lincoln County Nursing Center in Shoshone, Idaho. He was born March 1, 1924, in Carey, Idaho, at the home of his grandparents, John Will and Annie Jessen Farnworth. He was the fifth son of Jesse Ariel and Edna I. Boulton Farnworth.
Martin was raised in Fish Creek, and when he was 6 years old they moved to the ranch that became their home and family ranch for the next 70 or so years.
He attended school in Carey until the 10th grade when the promise of a team of horses of his own on the family farm became more important.
He married the love of his life, Merline Sparks, when he was 23 years old on March 4, 1947, in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. To this union were born three children, Martin, Cheryl and Thomas.
He was a member of the Field Artillery with the Long Tom guns in the Army during World War II.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Edna Farnworth, and brothers, Ariel, Q, and June. He is survived by his wife of 62 years; his three children, Martin De (Patty) Farnworth of Phoenix, Ariz., Cheryl (Michael) Sparks, of Carey and Thomas Wilbur (Brenda) Farnworth of Richfield, Idaho; his 14 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren; an adopted sister, Shirley (Benny) Seward of Kansas City, Kan.; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Carey. Interment will follow at the Carey Cemetery.
Friends may call from 1-9 p.m. Friday, July 31, at the Wood River Chapel in Hailey and from 1-2 p.m. Saturday at the church.
Photos and guest book are available online at www.woodriverchapel.com.
