Obituary

Martin Robert Farris
February 7, 1949 – November 12, 2024

Martin Robert Farris of Laguna Niguel, California, a man of boundless creativity, deep faith, and unwavering love for his family, passed away peacefully on November 12, 2024. Born on February 7, 1949, to Cleo (Farris) CaHill and Kenneth Farris in Brainerd, Minnesota, Marty grew up in a home filled with love and values. He was preceded in death by his parents but leaves behind a large, adoring family who cherished him deeply: his four children Kimberly Farris-Berg (Brian), Kristofer Farris (Elizabeth), Kelly Clark (Andrew), Karly Foster, and Mark Foster–along with 11 grandchildren: Molly, Ruby, Griffin, Lauren, Mitchell, Eleanor, Jack, Archer, Luke, Collin, and Teagan. Marty is also survived by his siblings Michael Farris (Joni), Thomas Farris (Patricia), Christine Farris, and James Farris (Shelly), as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Marty attended high school and most of college at Nazareth Hall Catholic Seminary in St. Paul, before graduating from the College of St. Thomas. His faith in God remained a cornerstone of his life, reflected in his active participation in various ministries. Marty had a natural flair for the arts and was a gifted performer, writer, and director. In high school, he organized his entire senior class to stage a play, and in college he created an ongoing, well-attended, WWE-style wrestling series complete with an ongoing storyline, costumes, and tinfoil championship belts. In his 30s, he and his pal Duane Mode wrote Marty: The Musical, inspired by the 1955 Best Picture-winning film. Throughout his life, he was committed to capturing the world around him, documenting life’s precious moments through photos and videos.

He built a fulfilling career in sales, starting with advertising at the St. Paul Pioneer Press, where he met his wife of 28 years, Deborah Exley. His career later took him into packaging sales, a role he embraced with pride. Among his favorite accomplishments was selling the iconic Wheaties boxes, including the celebrated 1987 edition honoring the Minnesota Twins’ World Series win. Later, he’d brag about his involvement with the Popcornopolis bags, especially when Leonardo DeCaprio would be photographed holding one at Lakers games.

Marty’s creativity extended well beyond the workplace. Channeling his theatrical skills, he began playing Santa Claus at private parties to make ends meet for his young family—a role he continued for decades with unparalleled joy and authenticity. He had a gift for connecting with children, memorizing the photos their parents attached to their Christmas letters, then recognizing and calling each child by name while he recalled all the details from the letter so they would feel Santa really knew them.

His sales career moved his family from Maplewood, Minnesota, to Mission Viejo, California, in 1984. He dearly missed his family of origin, but embraced California life to its fullest, camping up and down the state, playing Smashball at the beach, attending his son’s UCLA football games at the Rose Bowl, and taking long walks around Lake Mission Viejo with his dog Blackjack. Marty also took pride in his craftsmanship, fixing everything from plumbing to electrical issues, building furniture, and tending to his family’s yard, where he cultivated nectarine and peach trees. He’d harvest the fruit, freeze it, and blend it into frozen daiquiris whenever his family and friends from Minnesota came to visit.

As a devoted father, Marty shared his love for the arts with his children, who became actively involved in Talon Theatre at Santa Margarita Catholic High School. He was a constant presence, contributing behind the scenes with make-up and MCing the annual theatre banquet with clever, Billy Crystal-style, opening numbers that celebrated the year’s productions with humor and heart.

This was Marty. He made everything especially memorable. Every Fourth of July, he delighted family and friends with his homemade ice cream and an entertaining display of tennis balls launched skyward from a vintage soda can cannon his grandmother Alice made to scare crows from her pecan trees at her Missouri home. He loved to joke and make people laugh, and was always willing to help a neighbor. He cheered on his children and grandchildren at countless sporting events, performances, and milestones, and was so proud of all their accomplishments.

In his later years, Marty embraced retirement with vigor. He was a committed president of his HOA Board. He also traveled to the Holy Land and Italy with his dearest friend Thomas Chapple, fulfilling lifelong dreams to deepen his connection to his Catholic faith. Even in his final years at assisted living facilities, he was the chapel’s lector. He also entertained the residents and staff with his enthusiastic performances of “Hello Dolly” whenever he could persuade the visiting musicians to accompany him.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Monday, December 2, 2024, at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Laguna Niguel, California, followed by interment at Ascension Cemetery in Lake Forest, California, and reception. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to one of Marty’s favorite charities, the Orange County Rescue Mission, in his honor. Contributions can be made at rescuemission.org. If you do send flowers, please send them to O’Connor Mortuary by 1:00pm on December 1, as they will coordinate delivery to all events.

Marty has taken his final bow. Though the curtain has fallen, the echoes of his laughter and the memories of his vibrant spirit will remain in our hearts. Bravo, Marty—your curtain call was extraordinary, and the standing ovation will never end.