A ferocious litigator in the courtroom but a tender-hearted man with a love for all God’s creatures, local attorney Frank Farrar died suddenly Tuesday at the age of 74.
“He was a philanthropist to the needy and a dogged trial lawyer who was wonderful if you were his client,” said longtime law partner Joey Butler of his friend and colleague who noted his aggressive side disappeared once he walked out the courthouse doors. “He made a pact with God back in law school that once he graduated he would help those who needed help whether or not he had the means.”
Mr. Farrar was true to his promise, beginning his law career without an office but immediately doing what he could to help the needy.
“His early clients may remember meeting him at McDonald’s,” Butler said. “That was his first office.”
Butler noted that along with opening Farrar, Holloman and Medley in McMinnville, he also operated Farrar, Holloman and Butler in Lafayette, the latter office set up to help people because he saw Lafayette as a town in need.
“Nobody can replace Frank,” said partner and former General Sessions Judge Barry Medley. “He was a unique person. He was a warrior in the courtroom, but he did have a softer side. He was the hardest working person I’ve ever been around.”
Medley joined the law firm in 1999, shortly after being defeated for the judgeship he had held for 16 years.
“Sometimes when you lose an election you feel sorry for yourself and think it’s the end of the world,” Medley said. “But, becoming partners with Frank, I have to say, is one of the best things that ever happened in my life.”
Medley noted that the two sides of Frank he knew, one the determined lawyer and one the kind-hearted philanthropist, made him unique.
“He touched a lot of people’s lives in different ways,” Medley said.
His best friend, Bill Frazier, who spent many hours fishing near the Chickamauga Dam with him, agreed Mr. Farrar helped many people.
“We would catch fish and then he would clean them and give them away,” Frazier recalled, noting Frank provided fish for many fish fries at Browntown Church. “The community will really miss him.”
Frazier said his best friend was a hard worker, often working 12 to 14 hours a day. However, if he could not give of his time to help a project or the needy then he would freely give of monetary means. Above all, Frazier said he was a great friend.
“We were like brothers,” Frazier said. “It’s a big loss personally to me. He changed my life.”
Linda Coursey of Viola Valley Dogs recalled that Mr. Farrar had helped the Humane Society and animal initiatives in Warren County for many years, donating not only money but his legal expertise.
“He has been wonderful to us,” Coursey said. “We couldn’t have made it without his help.”
Coursey said Mr. Farrar contributed tens of thousands of dollars she personally knows of to help care for animals, some of that including a major building at Viola Valley Dogs.
“He loved animals,” Coursey noted.
With Mr. Farrar’s sudden passing, both Medley and Butler said the law offices in McMinnville and Lafayette will continue operation and will be fully staffed.
“This firm was Frank’s creation,” Butler said. “He wanted it to be an institution indefinitely.”
Obituary information for Mr. Farrar is on this website in the obituary section and also in the paper on Page 2A. His services will be held Sunday.