LOU ANN FARRELL Aug. 3, 1935 – July 15, 2020
On July 15, 2020, Lou Ann Farrell, loving wife and mother of two, passed from this world at the age of 84 in Mesa, Arizona.
Lou Ann Hope was born on August 3, 1935 to Bonnie Lee (nee Phillips) and James Hugh Hope in Wichita Falls, Texas. They soon moved to Fort Worth where Lou Ann attended Arlington Heights High School and went on to earn her teaching degree from Texas Christian University.
In December of 1958, she married her Junior High School sweetheart, John Alden Farrell, and together they raised two children, Lisa, and John P. in Los Alamos, NM and ultimately Jemez Springs where they lived for a combined 57 years.
Lou Ann loved her time in the mountains of northern New Mexico. She enjoyed being outside and coaxing beautiful things to grow at 8,000 feet. She started her own business with friends, teaching Red Cross classes at the Los Alamos National Laboratory where her husband worked, and was active in the AAUW. She was passionate about the Girl Scout Troop she started. Even after her daughter left for college, she kept her troop and took “her girls” on many great adventures including hiking the Grand Canyon, white water rafting, and even to Europe on two occasions. Her son jokes that her troop did more fun things than even his Boy Scouts did.
Lou Ann’s other passion was her dogs. She loved her dogs and they have always been part of the family. The children even got used to being called by the dog’s name on more than one occasion!
Lou Ann was preceded in death by her mother, Bonnie Lee Hope, and her father, James Hugh Hope. She is survived by her husband of 61 years, John Alden; daughter Lisa (Kevin O’Neil) of Denver, CO; son, John P. (Kara) of Tempe, AZ; and cousins in California and Texas. As she requested, there will be no services; however, donations to her favorite charity, Best Friends Animal Organization www.BestFriends.org, would be welcomed.
Lou Ann was a gracious and selfless wife, mother, and friend who touched many, many lives. She will be missed.
