Rose Saad Farley, 81, died Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021, in Tennessee, from a non-Covid brief illness.
Beloved by all who knew her, Rose will be missed forever.
She was a woman of great faith, devoted to the Lord and to the service of her church. She loved her three daughters unconditionally and supported them through all their endeavors.
She was born in 1939, in Pikeville, the daughter of the late Clara Sword Saad and Jasper Saad.
She was preceded in death by her siblings, Lucille Smith, John “Bip” Saad, Paul, Pauline and Aletha.
She is survived by her three daughters, A. Claire Farley, of Georgia, Jenny Farley Kwong, son-in-law, Kevin, and grandson, Kai, of Pennsylvania, and Dana Chavis and son-in-law, Mike; step-grandchildren, AnnaLevi, PFC Walker, Zoe and Canaan; and many nieces and nephews.
Throughout her life, Rose worked as an English teacher, a court reporter and as court clerk and case manager to The Honorable Thomas E. Baynes and to the Honorable Alexander L. Paskay, federal judges in the United States Bankruptcy Court in Tampa, Florida. She was most proud of her work as Pike County (Kentucky) Fiscal Court Clerk for 19 years before retiring.
Rose was a frequent guest host for her sister, Lucille Smith’s daily radio show called, “The Personal Touch” on WPKE in Pikeville. She was also a guest columnist for the Appalachian News-Express. She was valedictorian of her high school, and despite having received several offers of scholarships to Ivy League schools, she was proud to graduate as valedictorian from Pikeville College.
Rose was a member of Pikeville United Methodist Church and First United Methodist Church in Frankfort, where she worked as church secretary, taught Sunday school and led Bible study. She never went anywhere without her Bible, which was so worn from reading and from her extensive notes in the margins that pages were falling out of it.
Mama Rose, as many of her daughters’ friends called her, was a mother to everyone, always offering a listening ear and kind advice with a great laugh. Her creativity inspired her family. She made costumes for plays and painted doll furniture with Pennsylvania Dutch designs. She crocheted beautiful afghans and baby clothes for gifts to friends. She played piano duets with Dana. Before her children could read, she drew paw prints on “notes” from the Easter bunny and pictures of food on grocery lists so they could help her shop.
Rose loved the Lord and looked forward to being in heaven, but she often told her daughters her spirit would be with them always and she would watch over them.
A memorial service is expected to be held at First United Methodist Church in Pikeville, in the coming months, when it is safe to gather. Arrangements are under the direction of the Jennings and Ayers Funeral Home and Cremation
