James Woodrow Farley, age 71, of 109 Wilson Creek Lane, Clifton Forge, died Saturday, December 19, 2009 at his residence.

Born March 12, 1938 in Kathryn, Fayette County, West Virginia, he was a son of the late Woodrow Wilson Farley and Permelia Agnes Lively Farley.

He was a retired film tower operator at A.E.T. of Covington.

He was a member of the Covington Masonic Lodge # 171 A.F. & A.M., the Covington Royal Arch Chapter # 18, the Scottish Rite Bodies of the Roanoke Valley, the Kazim Shriners, and the Clifton Forge Shrine Club.

He was a member of the Christ United Methodist Church of Covington, where he was president of the Men's Group from 2001 until 2009. He volunteered at the C.O.P.E. Covington Food Bank, was the soundman and manager for both the Moonshine Express and Thunder Road bands, loved photography, hunting, and fishing, and enjoyed videotaping animals that visited his back yard.

He was a loving husband and father, and was a friend to all who knew him.

In addition to parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Annette Marie Farley and his stepfather, Roy T. Farley.

He is survived by his wife, Martha Puckett Farley of Clifton Forge; two daughters, Donna Farley Herald and husband, Steve of Clifton Forge and Sherry Farley Hensley of Covington; seven step children, Rebecca Higgins and husband, Ricki of Clifton Forge, Shelia Landis and husband, Mike of Covington, Rhonda Burger and husband, Steve of Clifton Forge, Donna Marie Green and husband, Tony of Iron Gate, Danny Lee Nicely and wife, Christie of Low Moor, Tony Nicely and wife, Roxanne of Clifton Forge, and Todd Nicely and wife, Scarlet of Selma; thirty grandchildren and step grandchildren; ten great grandchildren and step great grandchildren; a number of nieces and nephews, and faithful companion "Buddy".

A funeral service was conducted on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel of Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge with Reverend Michael Snider officiating. Interment followed in Sharon Baptist Church Cemetery, Clifton Forge. Pallbearers will be Travis Herald, Danny Nicely, Ricki Higgins, Tony Nicely, Todd Nicely, Jim Nuckels, Matthew Barrett and Steve Herald. The family received friends Wednesday evening at Nicely Funeral Home, with Masonic Rites conducted in the chapel at 7:00 PM by Covington Masonic Lodge # 171 A.F. & A.M. The family suggests memorial tributes take the form of contributions to the Clifton Forge Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 419, Clifton Forge, VA 24422.

The Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge, Virginia, handled the arrangements.