Jean Booth Farnam

Jean Booth Farnam was born in Asheville on March 7, 1925 to the late Gladys Hylan Booth and Roy Purvis Booth. She died recently on December 24, 2017 at age 92. Jean began an active and happy life growing up in North Asheville and attending Claxton Elementary. She graduated from Asheville’s Lee Edwards High School in 1942 and went on to the University of South Carolina where she earned an undergraduate degree in Business. She returned to Asheville and worked as an administrative assistant to the regional manager at CP&L. In 1948, she married Frank Farnam and by 1950, her years as a full time mother began. Jean was active with the First Presbyterian Church and taught Sunday School along with Cub Scouts. Jean’s faith always guided, sustained and comforted her. Throughout life, Jean greatly enjoyed and valued friends. She and her lady friends seemed to know everything that was happening. During the 1950’s, she became an enthusiastic and good golfer. This sport delivered much pleasure and many relationships over following decades. Around 1964, she began a career selling real estate. When her children went to college, she moved to Pinehurst for several years and enjoyed creating a furniture business, more friends and golf. Jean always had a spring in her step and a zest for living. She cared about people and gratefully embraced life. She could be quite entertaining and, at times, high-spirited. Jean was predeceased by her sister, Sarah Booth Bryan. She is survived by two children, Neil Farnam and his wife, Christine, of Asheville and Lynn Dickey and her husband, Tom, of Cary. She also survived by six grandchildren, Laura Dickey, Alice Dickey, Wesley Farnam, Ellie Farnam, Michael Dickey and Abby Farnam. The family is very grateful to the fine people at Arbor Terrace Assisted Living in Asheville for the love, care, and good times Jean experienced during her last years. A Celebration Of Her Life will be held at a later date. Memorial Donations may be made in Jean’s name to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (www.cff.org). Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.