Douglas was born in Pittsburgh, PA to parents Larry Farrar and Roberta Smith Farrar. He essentially grew up in Neenah, WI, graduating from Neenah High School. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a BA in Mass Communications and later earned his MBA at DePaul University in Chicago, IL.
He married the love of his life and best friend, Kay Keyes Farrar on May 26, 1996. Their family love began with their first son, Ian Hamilton Alesi and two years later, their second son, Sean Douglas Mansell.
The couple raised their family in Columbia, Tennessee until 2021 when they moved to Longmont, CO. All his career he worked in the biking industry promoting cycling for all walks of life and any generation by setting up Farrar Cycling.
Douglas was predeceased by his father-in-law, Richard Keyes, his beloved mother-in-law, Audrey "Gigi" Keyes and both of his brothers-in-law, Robert Keyes and Paul Keyes, as well as his sister-in-law, Janet Keyes.
He is survived by his devoted wife, Kay Keyes Farrar and his adoring sons, Ian and Sean, parents Larry and Roberta Smith Farrar, brother Greg Farrar (Molly Farrar), as well as brothers-in-law: Glenn Keyes, Brian Keyes; three sisters-in-law: Dawn Gallaher (fiancé Don Hudson), Lynn Keyes, Susan (Dale) DeRuyter; sister-in-law, Cindy Keyes (Robert), Rhonda Keyes (Paul). His sweet nieces and nephews: Lily (Tommy) Farrar Creigh, Meredith (Odie) Wilkerson, Matthew (Akiko Noguchi) Keyes, Lauren Nelsen, Preston and Carson Nelsen, Sarah (Jon) Hodkiewicz, Christopher Keyes, Reilly (Joey) Keyes Messer, Caitlyn Keyes, Rebecca Joniaux, Erica Thatcher, Benjamin Bavinck and many other great nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be planned for a later date in Wisconsin. In lieu of flowers, the Farrar family will be setting up a scholarship fund to enable young riders to participate in Farrar Cycling Biking Clinics. Thank you for your kindness.
Gone way too soon.
How can we say goodbye to the love of our lives? Loving and devoted husband. Dedicated father. Our very best friend. Outstanding son and fun loving brother, brother-in-law, well-loved uncle, and unwavering friend. Our best friend in all things. Our role model. Our protector. Our partner in fun and love. Our soulmate.
How can we let go of your abundant love, caring and compassion? Of your determined strength, goodness and encouragement. Your unique perspective and unlimited imagination that always made us see life with the silver lining.
The light in your incredible eyes. The light shining from your deep, brave heart and intelligent mind. Not to mention your genuine, unshakable, hard core, straight-edge attitude.
How can we? It's unfathomable to us - as we know it is to you.
We looked up to you for your incredible talent, creative mind, athletic ability, adventurous spirit, courageous gentle compassion, unfailing support, fearless attitude, and unique punk rock lifestyle that made you our soulmate.
We so wanted to be just like you.
From the start you were ahead of everyone with your truth, love and way of life. You were always unapologetically yourself. Steadfast and Resolute. Unwavering. Determined. Courageous. Genuine.
We lived every day in love with each other and our sons. So many blessings, adventures and celebrations. Simply at home with family - we were content to be together eating pizza with Pepsi, homemade donuts and cake roll made by his loving mom. Adventures with family, hockey or biking, on the ice rink, at the track, on the rocks, on the mountain tops. Sharing your deep love for music and creativity through the drums. But especially celebrating the boys' academic and creative achievements.
You enriched every experience with your proud heart and joyful smile.
It's been our greatest honor to have been loved by you. And that makes us smile through this devastating loss. How can we let go of the love we never thought we deserved? Beyond our wildest dreams we didn't know we could ever dream how wonderful our lives would be with you.
But it was always easy with you. Never work. Just Love.
How can we look to the future? The impact of your legacy? Without you there to guide us? How can we take the next breath? How can I go to bed without your kiss or paint the next sunset? Or the boys take their next ride without you encouraging them? How can we Laugh again? How can we listen to your punk rock music? Ok yes, as loudly as we can, driving on a winding road.
Our promise is: WE WILL STAND STRONG. It won't be easy or the same. But we will because your strength lives on in us. We know you are forever in our hearts, as we aspire to be like you.
We promise to live and love with passionate intention. To laugh and giggle. To find our joys and embrace them boldly. To celebrate love and life every day to the fullest. Fulfilling your legacy, so that we may be even a sliver like you. We promise to share that legacy with those we meet and love. With our children we raise. We promise to tell the story of our hero Douglas Farrar.
And you will be with us in our minds, hearts and souls, watching and cheering with tears of pride and joy glinting in the sparkle of those amazing, blue green eyes. Shining with love.
Forever and a Day -
Not missing one single moment.
"And if you put it all together,
You didn't even once relent,
You cast a long shadow
And that is your testament." -Joe Strummer
With all our love, Kay, Ian and Sean
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