Roland Gene Farris

Roland E. (Gene) Farris, age 72, passed away peacefully Wednesday night with his family by his bedside at Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga following a long hard battle with cancer. He was a graduate of Charleston High School and also attended Cleveland State Community College. He was a licensed auctioneer and held a membership in Tennessee Auctioneer Association and also the National Auctioneer Association. He retired from Olin Chemical Corporation. He attended Hopewell Church of God. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends whom he loved dearly. He was preceded in death by his parents: James Neal Farris and Frances Parham Farris; a son Martin Farris; grandson, Craig Farris and his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Reverend George and Inez Ingram Rayfield. He is survived by his loving wife and caregiver of 42 years, Melba Rayfield Farris; their two daughters and sons-in-law: Ladonya and Greg Martineaux of Sevierville, TN and Lacondra and Shane Hartline of Chattanooga, TN; four precious grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; his pride and joy, little October Hartline whom he looked forward to spending time with each weekend; three brothers and spouses: Robby and Jane Farris, David and Dean Farris and Perry and Becky Farris all of Cleveland; five sisters and spouses: Ida Ruth Blackwell of Dalton, GA, Ella and Steve Register of Chipley, FL, Linda Shackley of Knoxville, Patty and James Scott of Cleveland and Mary and Frankie Fritts of Cleveland; he also has two children from a previous marriage, Roland E. (Ronny) Farris and Shelia Farris both of Cleveland; cousins and many friends. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, March 13, 2011 in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with Pastor Leon Goforth and Pastor Jerry Millwood officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens with a white dove release ceremony concluding the service. His family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, March 12, 2011 at the funeral home. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Farris family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.