Alvin Mcray Farley

Alvin McRay Farley, of Cool Ridge, West Virginia, passed away on October 8, 2024. He was a dedicated husband, loving father, playful grandfather, devoted brother, and good friend to all who knew him.

Born at home on the family farm on August 13, 1945, he grew up in Mt. View and went to Joe Cole school and then graduated from Shady Spring High School in 1963. After spending a few years in Cleveland, Ohio as a truck driver, he returned to Cool Ridge where he worked for 33 years as a coal miner working at Itman, Stanaford, Wyco and as a foreman at Beckley Mining where he was a well-loved boss. He was known for his hard work and passed on his work ethic to his children. He had a never ending sense of humor and played practical jokes that continued with his grandchildren. His kids remember their father having friends and family wherever they went in Southern West Virginia.

McRay had curiosity and knowledge of everything around him. When his kids were young, he had a small farm in Cool Ridge off Bennington Road with livestock and ponies for the kids. He had a calling for bees and neighbors would call upon him when a swarm was nearby, high or low. He somehow did not wear much bee protection although there were times when maybe he should have. He was an active member of the Appalachian Beekeeping Collective. He kept many Appalachian traditions alive including a love of bluegrass music, and the making of pickled corn and other special family recipes.

He shared a likeness with Santa Claus and was known for years to dress up around the holidays, and more than once even fooled his own kids.  He was a self taught expert on the backhoe and family and friends knew he would always help them out, and this is how he met his wife Faye. He met his lifelong best friend, Woodrow Brogan (Theresa) when he was two years old and they pulled numerous pranks and shenanigans throughout their life. They spoke on October 8th to celebrate Woody's 81st birthday, just a few hours before Alvin passed.

He is survived by his wife Ellen Faye Farley, his son Brenden (Sylvia) Farley of Las Cruces, NM; and daughters Julee Christine Farley (Yarom) of Anchorage, Alaska, and Lisa Farley Lopez of Shady Spring; stepson Corey (Carrie) Petry and four brothers including Leslie (Lola, d. 2020) Farley, Chester (Brenda, d. 2020) Farley, Kenny (Gayle) Farley, and Gary (Judy) Wills, and five sisters including Melva (Eddie) Cales, Nadine (d. Pat) Bragg, Pauline (d. George) Lester, Thelma (Ray) Simon, and Linda (Eli) Nixon. His nine grandchildren include Monica (Mike) Dunlap of El Paso, TX, Sara (Nick) Rojas of Las Cruces, NM, Ryan (Bree) Farley of Las Cruces, NM; Vanessa (Cameron) Farley of Burlington, VT, Benjamin Duhrsen, and Meredith Duhrsen of Anchorage, AK; Ashley (Alexander) Jaworski of Silverdale, WA, and Joshua Lopez of Omaha, NE;  Delaney Petry of Ghent; and 7 great grandchildren including Alyssa, Nicholas, and Matteo Rojas, Kennedy and Rome Farley, Julian and Emmerich Jaworski. He also became an unofficial uncle to Wally and Opal Farris.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ora Cletis Farley and Louisa Maude Farley in 2000, paternal grandparents Josiah and Evelyn (Lilly) Farley, maternal grandparents James and Ada (Bolen) Farley, his first wife Betty Cecilia Bahr Farley in 2001, his oldest brother Lemuel Farley of Appling, Georgia in 2007, nephews Ricky Bragg of Cool Ridge in 1980, Jason Farley in 1978 and Phillip Lester in 2018.

He was a member of White Oak Mission Baptist Church.

Celebration of life will be held at Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home Shady Spring Chapel on Sunday, October 13, 2024 at 3pm with Rev. Dave Nichols officiating. Friends may visit with family starting at 2pm.

Condolences and other expressions of sympathy may be mailed to 128 Maplewood Lane, Shady Spring, WV 25918, or on the guestbook at www.roseandquesenberry.net .

Arrangements are by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, 729 Flat Top Road, Shady Spring, WV.