Merle Duane Farnsworth, 70, of Beverly, died Friday, August 31, 2012, at his home. He was born January 20, 1942 to Clarence Otis and Rettie Irene Ball Farnsworth. He was a graduate of Fort Frye High School, had attended Eastern Christian College in Bel Air, MD, Emmanuel School of Religion, and graduated from Kentucky Christian College and Emerge Ministries, in association with Ashland Theological Seminary. Merle was a retired pastor from the Lowell Christian Church, but his ministries reached far and wide, having been involved with the Counseling Ministry at the Fifth St. Church of Christ in Beverly, Student Ministries in Flemingsburg, KY, the Olive Branch and Clarksburg Christian Churches. He also had affiliations with the Nineveh Christian Church in Lawrenceburg, KY, Manchester Church of Christ in Akron, Northeast Church of Christ in Columbus and the New Albany Church of Christ. He was also a man who enjoyed sporting events, as well as hunting. Merle is survived by his wife, Jennie Carol Wells Farnsworth, they were married September 16, 1966; a daughter, Jeannie Wells Farnsworth of Beverly, a son, Edward Russell Farnsworth (Maria) of Beverly, granddaughter, Jasmine Emma Lucas, brother, Wayne Guy Farnsworth (Sharon) of Beverly, sister, Mary L. Newton (Robert) of Dexter City, the best mother in law in the world, Dorothy Jane Gorsuch Wells of Steubenville, sister in law, Janet McDaniel (Larry) of Thornville, brothers in law, Paul Wells (Cynthia) and Robert Wells (Sheryl), both of Wintersville, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 4, 2012, at the Lowell Christian Church, with Tom Arehart and Rob Tuttle officiating. Friends may call on Monday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lowell Chapel of Cawley & Peoples Funeral Home, and also for one hour prior to his service at the church on Tuesday. His burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery in Lowell. The family asks that gifts in Merle's memory be made to the Christian Counseling Center, c/o Fifth St. Church of Christ, P.O. Box 185, Beverly, Ohio 45715, or to the Strecker Cancer Center, 401 Matthew St., Marietta, Ohio 45750.
