Leader Newspaper, Chariton, Iowa, July 11, 2000, page 12:
Don Farrell was born in Chariton, Iowa, the son of Esther Lutz Farrell and Frederick James Farrell. He died July 3, 2000, at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison, Iowa, at the age of 66 years.
Don graduated from Chariton public schools and later attended the American Institute of Business until he entered the United States Army in 1953, serving in Korea. It was there he sang in his first barbershop quartet, winning the All Far East Quartet Championship with the "Harmonaires" in a contest sponsored by the USO.
After his service, he returned to Des Moines and pursued his hobby, singing with the Des Moines chapter of SPEBSQSA, Inc.; as well as with many quartets. He worked as a meat cutter and later became a manager of Mautz Paints.
Don was united in marriage to Katie Scott, 1962, and moved to Vail, Iowa in 1963 to accept a postition with Westside Lumber Company, managing their Home Decorating Store in Denison. In 1964, he founded the Denison Barbershop Chorus where he srved as director for many years. He was an authority on the "barbershop sound" and served as coach for dozens of quartets and choruses throught the midwest.
He was part owner of Cesh Corporation, where he designed confinement swine buildings. He later founded Confinement Swine Systems in 1979, where he worked until his illness. He was also very active in the National Right to Life movement, Iowans for Life, and has served as past president of Carroll area Iowans for Life Organization. In his spare time, Don enjoyed fishing at Marten's Pond near Westside.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Ed. Carl, and Charles; and two sisters, Johnetta and Barbara Dell Agan.
He is survived by his wife, Katie; and seven children, Mike Scott and his wife, Gennifer, of Emmetsburg, Iowa; Conner Scott of Fort. Collins, Colorado; Rosemary VanGorder and her husband, Jim, of Ft. Collins, Colorado; Brian Scott of Berkeley, California; Patrick Farrell of Vail; Fred Farrell and his wife, Kim, of Ft. Myers, Florida; and Peggy Staley and her husband, Allen, of Charter Oak; seven grandchildren, Holly, Mary Claire, Eileen, Olivia, Caroline, Quinn, and Jack, all of whom he enjoyed immensely. He is, also, survived by four brothers, Jerry and his wife, Bobbie; Richard and his wife, Cecelia; Bob and his wife, Betty; and Joe and his wife, Joey; one sister, Mary Colbert; one sister-in-law, Joan Farrell; and one brother-in-law, Eldon Agan; several nieces and nephews; other relatives; and friends.
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 6, at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Vail with burial at the St. Ann's Catholic Cemetery. Huebner Funeral Home in Denison was in charge of arrangements.