Maurice Farabee

Mr. Maurice F. Farabee, age 97 of Blairsville, passed away Wednesday May 29, 2019 at Stonehenge Assisted Living.

Maurice was born in Wauchula, FL on 5 May 1922 to DeWitt and Edith (Collins) Farabee. Early-on the family moved to Ft. Myers, FL where Maurice had a very active youth. He participated in a number camping excursions to the western parts of the US. With all those outdoor activities be achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America at the very early age of 13. His studies for a degree in Sociology at the University of Florida were interrupted in 1945 by World War II service in the Army where he qualified as a pilot. After discharge, he returned to the university to finish his degree and married Ann May Strong. At that time, he also applied for a job with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). He became a Special Agent of the FBI in early 1947 and continued in service until retirement in 1977. As an Agent he worked in numerous Field Offices of the Bureau in his earlier days, but since he was fluent in Spanish as a result of college courses he was assigned to the Miami Field Office in the early 1960's where he remained until his retirement.

Many summer vacations were taken by packing the station wagon with camping gear, three kids and a dog and driving up to the Smokey Mountains to camp. Numerous summers camping were done at Lake Winfield Scott which helped introduce Maurice and Ann to the general Blairsville area. In 1974 they bought farm property in Blairsville and then in 1978, after Ann retired as a history teacher in the Miami-Dade School System, they moved up to the property. For many years they took great joy in tending to a herd of three dozen or so head of cattle and assorted farm animals. Maurice was probably happiest when he was out in the field working.

With Ann's keen interest in history and their sense of community pride they became very involved in the Union County Historical Society and Courthouse restoration efforts. Maurice served 2 terms as president. They and others were instrumental in getting a new clock tower built and installed. Their efforts have been recognized both locally and statewide. In 1997 "A Resolution commending Maurice and Ann Farabee" was read on the floor of the Georgia House of Representatives (HR 536) that highlighted their service through the Historical Society. In 2002, they (posthumously for Ann) received the Humanities Medal from The Georgia Humanities Council. Anyone who spoke with Maurice and Ann about the Courthouse immediately recognized the pride they had in the Blairsville community. They were also members of First United Methodist Church of Union County.

Family left behind to cherish his memory include: son & daughter-in-law, Theodore "Ted" & Deborah Farabee of Mt. Dora, FL; son & daughter-in-law, John & Trudy Farabee of Blairsville; and sister, Irene Crow of Ft. Myers, FL. Also, sharing in his legacy are his grandchildren, Joshua Farabee, Amanda Farabee, Heather Rene Farabee, Vickie Cook, Jamie Cook, and Kevin Cook and 5 great grandchildren. Maurice was preceded in death by his wife, Ann in 2001 and his son, Joe in 2013.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. from the Chapel of Cochran Funeral Home of Blairsville with Rev. Mike Cloyd officiating. Special music will be presented by John and Olean Dyer. Interment will follow in Union Memory Gardens Cemetery with military honors presented by the North Georgia Honor Guard. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday from 9 a.m. until the service begins.

Arrangements entrusted to the Cochran Funeral Home of Blairsville, Georgia. You may send condolences to the family and sign the guest register at www.cochranfuneralhomes.com.