By Patricia A. Scheyer
NKyTribune Reporter
Oakley Farris is about to turn a century old. The community benefactor will turn 100 on August 28th and he knows the enormous significance of living that long.
“I really have no idea why I’ve lasted this long,” he said, smiling and quipping with his typical sense of humor, “I appreciate it – it’s a day-to-day thing. But at this point in my life, I appreciate everything!”
Born in 1924 in Gray, Kentucky, near Lexington, Oakley quickly learned that he could earn money by doing odd jobs. Among other things, he used the money to buy candy bars. But not for himself. Oakley had discovered that he could sell the candy at a local factory for a higher price.
A businessman was born.
After graduating from high school in Lexington, Oakley joined the Army and served in Europe during World War II.
He has many memories of his two years of service. First, he received a draft notice and took the bus to the medical examination that was necessary for joining the army.
“There was something about my heart that they didn’t like,” he recalled. “They wanted to say I was 4F. So I used all my sales skills and talked myself into joining the army.”
He said he always followed the rules in the army, but he didn’t like fighting. Oakley was always curious and looked for opportunities to explore, even though he was never allowed out alone and it was very dangerous. Once he found a farmhouse and met a family whose son was fighting for the German army in Italy. Despite the language barrier, he managed to communicate with them and realized they were good people, just like the Americans. When he went to the barn and helped look for eggs in the straw, he wondered why they had to be enemies.
Another time, when his unit was waiting to take part in the Battle of the Bulge, he remembered how cold it was. He became terribly ill and was taken to a large field hospital. As he slowly recovered, he remembered a commanding officer looming over him, asking him how he had even gotten into the army. Oakley offered no explanation. But when he left the army, he hated war and the killing that came with it.
Oakley returned to Covington and got a job as a traveling salesman for a Cincinnati firm called Segal-Wilson. Not having a car didn’t bother him at all – he used trains, buses and taxis to reach his clients from New York to Florida. Oakley could drive and remembered driving a two-and-a-half ton truck in the Army, but he liked to use public transportation.
Oakley loved his job. He loved meeting people, and he still does. He told a story about being in downtown Covington and seeing a petite lady walking toward him.
“She looked like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders,” he said. “I waited until I was closer, then turned to her and said, ‘Smile!’ And she smiled!”
Later he told her to be positive, always be positive and do something good for someone else every day. Then he told her it is always darkest before it gets light.
These are the thoughts Oakley has for himself every day. He has lived by these thoughts since he was a child, and his mother, Estel Farris, told all children that there is good in every person. They should look for the good.
“I am most proud of my mother in my life,” he said quietly.
Oakley would follow his mother’s advice and take it upon himself to tell a person what beautiful eyes they have, or he would walk right up to a table of four ladies and tell them he had never seen so many attractive ladies in such a small space. He always wants to see people smile, make them laugh and be happy. When he sees a couple that seems very lonely, he strikes up a conversation with them and leaves them smiling.
“Anyone who doesn’t have joy has serious problems,” he said. “I look forward to every day.”
Oakley met Eva, a beautiful woman born and raised in Cuba, when they both happened to be in Miami, Florida, during a hurricane. They took an instant liking to each other. When they separated, they kept in touch by letter and phone, and two years later they were married in New York at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Although Eva predeceased him, Oakley says she is still with him. Together, they will continue the good work they do through the Eva G. Farris Foundation, which works to keep art in schools, though there are signs of Oakley and Eva’s generosity all over town.
Eva was the love of his life, but she is not necessarily the highlight of his life. He said there are highlights every day. Eva was the highlight of many days for him.
“I wake up and know that something good is going to happen that day,” he explained. “The highlight of my life is still in the works, because every day is a highlight.”
He has hope for future generations, even though he believes it’s harder for today’s kids. Oakley remembers his teacher telling them all in seventh or eighth grade, “It’s as easy to aim for the moon as it is to aim for your big toe!”
“I’m still aiming!” Oakley said, laughing.
He said military service was meaningful to him because before that he had never traveled more than 25 miles from his birthplace. He said he was always a loner as a child, never had many close friends and even in the army he traveled alone, against the rules.
“In Israel, all men and women must serve two years in the military,” he said. “I think we should do the same in this country. We have become so accustomed to instant gratification of our needs that we demand it in all areas of life.”
Of all the developments and inventions Oakley has experienced, he considers artificial intelligence to be the best thing he has ever seen.
“Artificial intelligence will become either a wonderful utopia or a living hell for the world in our lifetime,” he said prophetically.
At Oakley’s age, it’s only natural to think about what legacy he wants to leave to the world. He thought about it and reminisced about his time with Eva. He remembered how people mistreated and discriminated against her in her earlier years. That still makes him angry.
He remembered a sophisticated colleague, Harry Siegal, inviting him to a high-profile meeting. Someone asked him why he was hanging out with all the Jews? Harry stepped in and told everyone not to worry about Oakley, he had a Jewish brain and a Christian body. Oakley was always proud of that.
“These people all want the same thing, regardless of their skin color or religion,” he explained. “Love, respect and a decent way to earn a living. And that’s worldwide.”
Oakley wants people to get along, help each other, be positive and use common sense. He has no patience for narrow-minded people.
“I feel like I’m constantly creating a legacy for eternity in this moment,” he said.
Oakley Farris has caught the attention of leaders across the region who recognize the good work he and Eva are doing, and many have sent him their best wishes for his birthday. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear recognizes Oakley’s many contributions to the community.
“Oakley and his late wife, Eva, touched countless lives throughout Kentucky,” Beshear said. “Through their many contributions to schools, hospitals, libraries and other institutions, Kentucky is better off because of their work. Oakley reminds us all that it is our job to do good and be kind to one another.”
Oakley, on the other hand, is far from resting on its laurels.
When asked if he thought as a child that he would live to be 100, he paused.
“When I was little, I never thought about it,” he said, laughing. “I don’t know, but now I’m looking forward to the second 100 years.”
A previous NKyTribune story on Oakley Farris can be found here.
