Jane Gaston Ketchen Farley

An angel was sent from God on October 24,1925; Jane Gaston Ketchen Farley came to walk among us, to console and counsel many including her large family. On March 27, 2025 she lifted her angel wings and returned to her heavenly home. Born to Frank Walker and Leonilla Thornton Ketchen, she was the second daughter and last surviving of their family of five. Mother, Jane, Jane K, Mother Jane, Granny and, we have been told “Janey”, was raised on Duncan Street in Shandon, in Columbia, S.C. Her father was an accountant and although the Depression affected them, she enjoyed a stable and loving childhood. As a youngster she was crowned the first May Day Queen at Sims Park. She was in the last class of students in Columbia with fall birthdays to start first grade at the beginning of second semester. She attended Schneider elementary, Hand Jr. High and Dreher High, and graduated from Columbia High in January 1943, the last class to graduate in 11 years. She started USC that spring, majoring in Chemistry and Biology and working two part time jobs to pay her tuition. One was as an assistant chemistry lab instructor. A young Naval student asked her out and the romance began. James Conway Farley Sr. – Connie to her, J.C. or Jim to many - a Tennessee farm boy with a very different childhood, swept her off her feet. She graduated in 3 years, and they married on April 6, 1946, shortly after her graduation and his commissioning as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy. She was the quintessential example of a southern lady and he, country come to town. What a pair they were together! So much so that in 2014, Garden & Gun magazine included them as one of its 100 “Great Southern Romances.”

Jane embraced marriage and family with a sense of responsibility and joy that she made look effortless to all who knew her. They began married life in Columbia, where she lived until Connie returned from WWII and finished USC. They headed to Nashville, TN for their first glimpse of non-academic life. But soon the winds of war called again, and they began traveling courtesy of Uncle Sam as Connie was called back for service during the Korean War. They went to Port Hueneme, Ca, then Dahlgren, VA, and finally, Fairfax, VA before returning to Columbia in late 1954. Connie returned to inactive status with the Navy Reserve and started Farley Construction. By now they had six children in tow; two more joined the family shortly. All the while, Jane was an enthusiastic participant in Life. She taught children’s Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She joined a bridge club where she made lifelong friends who played together for 60+ years. She joined the garden club, was active in PTA, served as PTA president for 2 terms, learned accounting skills from her accountant father so she could keep the books for a growing Farley Construction Company. She supervised the raising of AKC registered German shepherd puppies, planned picnics, trips, and vacations … but most importantly she showed her family how to have fun. She sent her children to school with the memory of her laughing at Beetle Bailey, Andy Capp, L’il Abner, Mutt and Jeff, Little Orphan Annie, and Sad Sack. She sent one to school with a giant egg-laying snapping turtle in a Radio Flyer wagon so others could marvel at its size and the number of eggs. When the principal called to tell her what her son had done, she replied, “ I told him to.” Every day they came home to home cooked meals and conversations about the news of the day.

With her children grown to high school or beyond, she enrolled in accounting classes at USC and went to work for DHEC where she said she “had an hour for lunch; two, fifteen-minute breaks a day; and they pay me!” She was promoted after a week when the skills she had practiced in Farley Construction Co were proved in their accounting test. Soon after she was selected to run the accounting division of the SC State Supreme Court which had previously been under a more general accounting office. But she was not finished adding to her family, and about this time, she adopted, albeit unofficially, her ninth child and fifth daughter, Kathe Lester.

All along, Jane kept up with the news and participated in politics. In 1982 she ran for the SC State House of Representatives. She was a diligent campaigner, and although she did not win the office, she did have a better showing than most other Republicans in the off-year election pushback against Reagan. She continued to participate in the South Carolina Republican Party well into the late 1990’s.

Jane loved all living things. There were always numerous pets around, cats, dogs, turtles and a snake, but no birds due to a childhood attack from a hen. As she and Connie reached retirement, they purchased a thousand acres on Cedar Creek and the Broad River, where they built a new home and raised black angus cattle. It was Connie’s dream come true, and she was right there with him, making that dream come true, even so far as helping to pull a calf one morning at 2 AM.

After marriage Jane joined the Church of Christ to worship with Connie. He often invited newcomers or visiting soldiers from Ft Jackson to their home for Sunday dinner. Jane took it all in stride, offering a bountiful meal and warm hospitality. Their last congregation was Long Creek Church of Christ in Columbia that Connie designed and built. Later they hosted fall hayrides and other activities at the farm for their church family.

Jane was not only Connie’s steadfast companion; she was a counselor and confidante to her children and to so many of her friends, and a role model and mentor to her many grandchildren. Locked in her memory are many secrets that will never be told.

Jane was preceded in death by her beloved Connie, her daughter Barbara Ann Bockman and husband Sam, daughter Kathe Lester Hall, and her siblings, Leonilla “Lee” Young and husband Edward B. Young; twin brothers, Frank William Ketchen, Thomas Walker Ketchen; and her sister Leila Walker and husband Fritz Walker. She is survived by her children; James Conway Farley, Jr (Jan), Susan Jane Larson (George), Mary Ellen Nevins (Bill); Margaret Dean Todd (George); John Walker Farley (Myra); Richard Lee Farley (Cindy); Frank William Farley (Kim); Todd Hall; dozens of grandchildren, grandchildren in-law, and great-grandchildren (the total number of under her “umbrella” is 110); her sister-in-law, Marietta Ballard Ketchen; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her deep Faith in her God and his son, our risen Christ, a key to Jane’s life and longevity is one of her statements: “ I meant to be worried but I forgot” !

Jane was a generous contributor to many causes in which she believed, from her church at Long Creek Church of Christ, to Southeastern Children's Home, the Columbia Zoological Society, SC ETV, Harvest Hope Food Bank, Leo’s Pride Foundation and many others. In lieu of flowers, the Family encourages you to make a generous donation to the charity of your choice in her name.

Her service will be held at 4:00 pm on Sunday, March 30, 2025 at Long Creek Church of Christ, with visitation following in the Fellowship Hall. A private graveside for the family will be held in Elmwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be eight of the many grandchildren: Jay Holder, Trey Farley, Thad Guyton, Jimmy Holder, John S. Farley, Kyle Farley, Patee Farley Tomsic, and Meredith Farley Bugenske.