Norman Ray Farmer died May 11, 2012 in Murfreesboro at the age of 95. He was an extraordinary husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. He remained interested in and inquisitive about the world around him until his last day. He will be remembered for his fascinating stories especially of his early days in southern California. He was articulate, artistic, and always a gentleman. He was born February 22, 1917, in Los Angeles, CA, the child of the late Frank Foster Farmer of Elyria, OH, and Isabel Victoria Smith of San Diego, CA. He was preceded in death by his wife, Annie Marcella Harris Farmer, and brother Allyn Neil Farmer. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Steve Case of Murfreesboro, grandsons Gary Case of Boston, MA, and Andrew Case and his wife Tiffany Blanchard-Case of Washington, D.C. He is also survived by special adopted grand-daughters Enida Hadziabdic Islamagic (Mevludin) of Phoenix, AZ, and Dr. Denita Hadziabdic Guerry (Clay) of Knoxville, TN, originally of Sarajevo, Bosnia. Surviving nieces and nephews include Julie Farmer (Scott Lazarus) of Irvington, NY, Tom Farmer (Marita) of Singapore, Jon Farmer (Mary) of Wake Forest, NC, David Farmer (Amber) of Canton, MI, Cathy Farmer, Annelle Harris Smith (Ralph), and Jimmy Harris (Peggy) of Murfreesboro, Kathy Wood Buker (Chris) of Arrington, TN, Gary Wood of Dawsonville, GA, Diane Harris Tarka (Mike) of Montgomery Village, MD, and Steve Harris (Shigeko) of Atlanta, GA. He also leaves brother-in-law and sister-in-law Philip and Edna Harris of Nashville, sister-in-law Kitty Harris Wood of Murfreesboro, and sister-in-law Aliene Harris of Nashville, cousins David Searle of San Diego, CA, Jean Gormley of Bowie, MD, Jeanette Buttle of North Ridgeville, OH, Isabel Ricard of Lakeside, CA, and many special friends, including the Ishimatsu family of Chiba, Japan. Through his mother, Mr. Farmer was descended from Spanish soldiers and Mexican settlers who were members of the fourth Spanish settlement expedition led by Captain Rivera y Moncada into Alta California in 1781. Among these ancestors were founding members of the Pueblo of Los Angeles, the Presidio at Santa Barbara, the Mission San Buenaventura, and soldiers stationed at the San Diego Presidio. Adobe homes of his Machado family ancestors have been reconstructed at Old Town State Park in San Diego. Mr. Farmer graduated from John Fremont High School in Los Angeles in 1934, and from Los Angeles City College in 1936, with a major in architecture/drafting. In 1941, he moved to Washington, D.C. to accept a position with the U.S. Maritime Commission, and worked on the design of a new fleet of Liberty Ships necessitated by the U.S. involvement in World War II. He completed additional college coursework at George Washington University. It was in Washington, D.C. that he met his wife, Cella , whom he married in 1945. Subsequently they lived in New Rochelle, NY, Springfield, NJ, San Diego, CA, and for over 30 years in Millburn, N.J., before retiring to Murfreesboro. In 1947, Mr. Farmer left the Maritime Commission to work for Aristotle Onassis, Stavros Niarchos, and Costa Gratsos, owners of the Pacific Mediterranean Steamship Lines, with management responsibility for shipments through ports in Cuba. In 1952, he began a long-time career as a systems analyst specializing in weight and cost estimation of ships with George G. Sharp Co., Naval Architects, of New York, N.Y. He worked on the design of the NS Savannah, the first nuclear powered cargo-passenger ship. During this time he completed additional course work at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. He served as President of the New York Metropolitan Chapter of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME). He retired from George G. Sharp Co. in 1981 and worked in 1981-1982 for SNAME at their headquarters in the World Trade Center in New York City. Since moving to Murfreesboro in 1982, Mr. Farmer has been a member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church where he served as an usher for many years, a member and officer of the local Blackman Community Club, a member of Dixie Chapter 16 of the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors, and an enthusiastic and loyal member of the Wellness Center at MTMC (formerly P.A.C.E.). His hobbies included watercolor painting, gardening, woodwork, photography, and horology. He served as the secretary of the committee to restore the Rutherford County Courthouse Clock now on display at the Discovery House in Murfreesboro. He was avidly interested in genealogy, especially his mothers familys history in Mexico and Southern California. Mr. Farmer loved to travel, and appreciated many other cultures to which he was exposed through his childhood in Southern California, his work experiences in Washington, D.C., and New York City, and his contact with international students studying at Tennessee Technological University and Middle Tennessee State University. The family wishes to extend thanks and appreciation to Dr. Eric Egli and Dr. Tina Gresham and their staffs, as well as the staff of Adams Place Assisted Living for their extraordinary care. Visitation will be held at Woodfin Funeral Home, 1488 Lascassas Pike, Murfreesboro, TN, from 4:00-8:00 p.m. on Monday, May 14, 2012. The funeral service will take place at St. Rose of Lima Church, 1601 Tennessee Blvd, Murfreesboro, TN, at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 15, 2012. Pallbearers will be Ralph Smith, Gary Wood, Jimmy Harris, Keith Smith, Byron Faulkner and Daniel Buker. Honorary Pallbearers will be current and former ushers of St. Rose of Lima Church. Interment will be in the McClaran Family Cemetery in Almaville, TN. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Boosters of Old Town, 4002 Wallace Street, San Diego, CA 92110, St. Rose of Lima School, Math and Science Departments, 1601 Tennessee Blvd, Murfreesboro, TN 37130, or a charity of your choice.