Irma L. Farmer Moss

Irma Louise Connett Farmer Moss was born July 14, 1930, in Athens, Ohio, to Raymond Wyatt Connett and Irma Hill Connett. Irma was the second of six children. Irma attended schools in Athens and London, Ohio, and graduated from Ohio University earning a bachelor’s in Business Administration. During her college years she was a member of the OU Concert and Marching Bands, a cook in a nursing home, and care provider for her father’s brother, George.

Upon graduation, Irma joined her father and siblings in Piketon, Ohio, where her father was the high school Band Director and met one of his band members, a clarinetist named Arthur Farmer. Irma and Arthur married that June 1953 at the Piketon Methodist Church and following an invitation from Art’s cousin, Dr. Marlin Farmer, Professor of Humanities at MSU, Art enrolled at MSU in Journalism and Irma went to work as a secretary to the Agricultural School of MSU. Upon their arrival, Irma and Arthur joined Central United Methodist Church and were active and involved members of the choir and athletic programs for decades.

In 1955, the first of Irma’s six children was born, Linda, followed by Ted, Andrew, Diana, Thomas and Carol Ann. It was always her intention to have six children, 3 boys and 3 girls and she got her wish. She was a wonderful mother, and worked hard to provide for and educate her children. After a few years of child rearing, Irma returned to work teaching typing at Lansing Community College, was an office administrator for the 7 Up Distribution Center, and then was Human Relations Manager for the Motor Wheel Corporation, becoming the most senior ranking woman in the company. Managers and floor workers alike valued and loved Irma.

After many years, and with the eventual closing of Motor Wheel, Irma became the Human Relations Director for the Michigan Catholic Conference and served there nearly ten years.

In retirement, Irma continued to work. She was a secretarial aid to the Director of Food Services at the time, now Dr. Brenda Nelson, and recording secretary for the East Lansing City Council. A single woman for many years, Irma bought her own home, welcomed her children’s spouses, cherished her grandchildren, helped care for neighbors and her ex-husband through his many health challenges.

In 2009, Irma met and married Francis Moss at Eastminster Presbyterian Church and began a 14-year marriage that provided Irma opportunities for love and companionship, travel and concerts. With Frank, Irma again made a lovely and loving home until his death Oct. 8, 2023. Irma loved raising roses, playing the piano, listening to music and singing, and most of all, her family.

Irma’s life was an outpouring of love and service to others. She is survived by her children and their spouses, Linda and Bill Farmer-Lewis, Ted and Stacy Farmer, Andrew Farmer, Diana Farmer and Charlie Richardson, Tom and Christine Farmer, and Carol Ann Farmer; eight grandchildren, Sarah (Drew) Erspamer, Ryan Farmer, Amanda Farmer, Christian Farmer, Emily (Tim) Drier, Caroline (Aaron) Brack, Seneca Sojourne, and Camden Boyle; four great-grandchildren, Reese and Hill Erspamer, Adrienne and Benett Drier; her sisters, Sarah (Eugene) Brushart, Iris Dixon, and Jeannette Rowe; and numerous nephews and nieces.  They are all filled with undying gratitude for having had her guidance and love. This world is immensely better for her having been here. She lived out her faith in God in trust and service to others and left everything around her better than she found it.

Irma was preceded in death by her parents, brother Harry Connett, and sister Winifred Connett.

A memorial service to celebrate Irma’s life will be held 12:00 p.m., Saturday, November 18, 2023, at Central United Methodist Church, 215 N. Capitol Ave., Lansing, MI 48933, with Rev. Rich Burstall and Rev. Bill Amundsen officiating. There will be memorial visitation held one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Memorial donations may be made to Central United Methodist Church. Arrangements are by the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel.