Joseph "Joe" John Farley

Joseph “Joe” John Farley was born in Indiana as the oldest of six children to John and Ruth Farley. He married his high school sweetheart, Anita Mae Newell in 1956 in St. Petersburg, Florida. He enjoyed his career as an ambulance driver and licensed funeral director, following in the footsteps of his paternal uncles and father. In the early 1960s he and his father opened the Farley Funeral Home in Venice, Florida. In 1965, Joe and wife Anita moved with their three young daughters to Lehigh Acres, Florida to open their own funeral home and ambulance service. The family lived at the funeral home. Joe realized early on the need to get away from the business to be able to relax. So, family traveling became a priority, typically camping at Lake Reedy. In mid-1980, Joe and Anita sold the Farley Funeral Home and began traveling full-time in their Airstream. For four years they traveled throughout America and internationally in association with and eventually as employees of the Wally Bynum Airstream Club. In 1989, they found their dream retirement home on the Withlacoochee River in Dunnellon Florida. They continued to travel several months a year, making several road trips from Florida to Alaska which became their favorite summer destination.

Joe was very active in the communities where he resided serving in various organizations often in tandem with Anita including Lehigh Acres Hospital Board, Tri-County Community Bank Board, Florida Funeral Directors Association, Lehigh Acres and Dunnellon Kiwanis Clubs, Lehigh Acres volunteer fire department, Lehigh Acres Little League, Riverdale High School Band Boosters and Key Club.

Joe’s love for Jesus was the cornerstone of his life. Throughout his life, he was a faithful Christian helping people consistently and generously as his way of sharing the love of Jesus. He was a member of the United Methodist Church of Lehigh Acres and First Methodist of Dunnellon where he acted as Building Committee Chairmen for their new Sanctuaries. He made lifelong friends in Lehigh Acres, Dunnellon and with fellow travelers. After a couple years as a widower, Joe was blessed to meet Liz Martynowski. Their two families have enjoyed years of fellowship. With the help of his daughters, neighbors, friends and the tender joyful care of Lisa Martynowski, Joe was able to stay in his home until just last year. He moved to Tim and Susie’s farm in Monticello Florida where he enjoyed visits from family and friends, watching farm animals and cheering at great-grandchildren’s sporting events. There he joined the First Methodist Church. Joe welcomed all the delightful caregivers into his family. He died peacefully at home surrounded by his loved ones. He is preceded in death by his wife, parents and two sisters; Mary Marr and Sally Gabel and son in law, Bruce Werder. He is survived by his three daughters Joanne Bryant (David), Susie Prescott (Tim) and LeaAnne Werder (Joe Johnson), seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, three brothers and their wives, Mark (Wilma), David (Joanne) and Philip (Rowena) as well as many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends of Joe Farley are encouraged to come to the Venice Church of the Nazarene, 1535 E. Venice Avenue in Venice on Friday, October 9, 2026. Visiting with the family will be from 4:00PM-4:30PM with the Celebration of Life beginning at 4:30PM with a dinner reception to follow. A graveside service at Venice Memorial Gardens will be private for the family only. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to First Methodist Church of Monticello, the First Methodist of Dunnellon, Big Bend Hospice in Tallahassee or the charity of your choice.