Lee Anna Bell Farris, 86, of Holden, Missouri, died Wednesday, Aug. 23, at Holden Manor Care Center.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Holden Cemetery Association in memory of Lee Anna Bell Ferris. Graveside services were Aug. 25, at Holden Cemetery with Pastor Michael Wakeman officiating. The family received friends at the cemetery prior to the service.

She was born Sept. 9, 1930, to Jennings and Marie (Riddle) Sechrest in Holden, Missouri. She was the oldest of seven children, two of which have preceded her in death: James Sechrest and Earl Sechrest. Surviving her passing are Lillian Taylor, Goldie Mann, Joe Sechrest and Clarence Sechrest.

She married Bill McKinney, and they had three children: Dale McKinney of Lone Jack, Missouri; Stella Smith of Holden; and Robert McKinney of Kingsville, Missouri. She and Bill lived most of their married life in Lone Jack. Bill passed away in 1964, in a tractor accident. Her second marriage to Les Farris lasted almost 50 years. They moved to Holden about 20 years ago.  She was only 34 when she lost her first husband and had difficult times afterward, but was strong and got through it.

She loved to bowl and she loved people. She could start a conversation with a stranger in a checkout line and talk to them like she had known them forever. She had a great sense of humor and her family loved to see the twinkle in her eyes when she smiled. Her family was important to her, and she always tried to help when she could and always wanted to “make sure they had plenty to eat”. The past few years she had a very fat, little dog she called Bandit, and always worried about Bandit eating enough. Her goal was to take care of everyone and everything.

Ann was a member of the Forrest Grove Baptist Church most of her life. After they moved to Holden, they joined the Holden First Baptist Church. Going to church was important to her and she was sad when her health problems made it impossible for her to attend. Ann was proud to tell you she had nine grandchildren; RW, Stacey, Melisa, Crystal, and Steven McKinney; Cybill Justice; Kevin Smit; Aaron Brown; and Roberta O’Loughlin. She had 17 great-grandchildren.

When Ann’s health began to decline after her husband Les’ death, her family came in to stay with her giving her 24-hour care. She loved knowing that they cared about her enough to take time out of their lives to help.