Rev. William Thomas "Bill" Farley Jr. was born May 19, 1956, to Rev. William T. and Adell Crawford Farley in Peoria, Ill. He went to be with Jesus on Dec. 25, 2015, in Idaho Falls.

Survivors include his wife, Virginia of Teton; two daughters, Jennifer Farley (Shane) of New York and Jessica Carroll (Derek) of Loveland, Colo., and four grandchildren; three brothers, Jeffrey Farley of Yuba City, Calif., John Harvey of Yuba City, and Joe Harvey of Irvine, Calif.; four sisters, Mari Serebrov of Sheridan, Ark., Lisa Lewis of Helena, Mont., Rhonda Sams of Caldwell, and Rebekah Harvey of Boise; and his parents, Rev. John and Adell Harvey of Yuba City, plus numerous nephews and nieces. One daughter, Jaymi Farley Long (Colten), preceded him in death just last month (Nov. 2015). His first father, Rev. William Farley, died in 1967; and four sets of grandparents were also awaiting his arrival in Heaven.

For the past 20 years, Bill taught music at South Fremont Junior High School and South Fremont High School in St. Anthony. His bands and choirs won many awards, achieving highest honors at music festivals and contests. He directed and composed several historic pageants in St. Anthony, played in the Idaho Falls Symphony Orchestra and was available whenever music was involved. He ran the sound systems for the South Fremont schools, as well as for Steven Curtis Chapman and Pat Boone at concerts.

A computer whiz, he also served as a computer instructor, trouble-shooter and yearbook instructor at the South Fremont schools. He served the community as a ham radio instructor and test giver, served a term on the Teton City Council, led numerous Bible studies in the Upper Valley, directed youth camps in Montana and Idaho, taught private music lessons and could play anything that could make music, whether it be keyboard, percussion, strings, brass or wind instruments.

A graduate of John Brown University, Covington Theological Seminary and Concordia University, Bill held master's degrees in education and reading, and a PhD in theology. He recently authored a book, "When Facing the Storms of Life," which has helped many people facing difficult times in life. He served as pastor to congregations in Franklin, Tenn., Kalispell, Mont., Helena, Mont., and Dubois, before coming to the Upper Valley, where he was the beloved Protestant pastor at the Idaho Detention Center for nearly 20 years.

Always ready to help anyone and to share his knowledge of music, computing, etc., Bill will be sorely missed by his students, family and friends.

A Celebration of Life service will be Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. in the South Fremont Jr. High.

Arrangements have been under the direction of Bert Flamm Mortuary in St. Anthony.