Ellen Fahey Farmer, 77, Topeka, died Monday, June 21, 1999, at a care home in Chapman.

Mrs. Farmer had taught elementary students and special education students for the Department of Defense, Shawnee Heights Unified School District No. 450 and in Alaska for the Anchorage and the Carlton school districts.

She was born Aug. 20, 1921, at Hutchinson, the daughter of Charles M. and Grace E. Kennedy Morrissey. She graduated from Mayetta High School in 1939. She earned a life teaching certificate from Pittsburg State Teachers College and she earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Alaska, and a master's degree from Emporia State University.

She moved to Topeka from Arkansas in 1995. Mrs. Farmer was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church, the American Association of University Women, Retired Kansas Teachers Association, National Honor Society, Military Wives Service Club, National Association for Mentally Retarded Citizens and she did volunteer work as an International Red Cross Disaster Case Worker.

She married Peryl L. Farmer Jr. on Aug. 28, 1941, at Lesville, La. He died June 29, 1994.

A son, Charles Douglas Farmer, preceded her in death in 1973.

Survivors include a son, Gordon L. Farmer, Chapman; a daughter, Linda L. Sisney, Hot Springs, Ark.; a brother, J. Neil Morrissey, Hoyt; two sisters, Marguerite A. Hale, Mayetta, and Grace A. Bay, Topeka; seven grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters.

Mass of Christian burial will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Christ the King Catholic Church.

Burial will be in Mount Hope Cemetery in Topeka.

Mrs. Farmer will lie in state at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Holton where a rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Thursday. She also will lie in state an hour before service time Friday at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army or to the Center for Basic Cancer Research at Kansas State University and sent in care of the funeral home.