John Frederick Farr

John Frederick Farr, age 78, peacefully passed away on June 8, 2025, at home after a long illness. He was in the presence of his family and the sounds of morning bird songs. Raised in Cleveland Tennessee, son of Emil and Grace Margaret Farr, both educators, John was a Boy Scout and attained the rank of Eagle at the age of thirteen.

John was a career musician who began his professional education at the University of Tennessee, then transferred to the Philadelphia Musical Academy, earning BM and BME degrees, and later a MM at Boston University. He met his wife of 55 years while playing French horn with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. During the Vietnam war, he served in the U.S. Air Force Band in Washington DC, attaining the rank of TSgt. After his time in the military, he and his wife enjoyed several years working in New York City, until he was offered a position in the Chattanooga Symphony in conjunction with a teaching position at UT Chattanooga Music Department. In the 1980s he moved back to Knoxville and again played with the KSO and taught at Carson Newman College.

A career change and another degree in computer science led to him working as a GIS specialist, designing aerial maps for local utility companies. His mapping skills were essential to the success of his personal side project, SKARD (South Knoxvillians Advocating Reasonable Development) without which the Knoxville Urban Wilderness reserve would not exist as it is today.

John was an outstanding gardener, raising particularly delicious tomatoes. He loved the outdoors, hiking, backpacking, Wagner operas, and the Grateful Dead.

He leaves his wife, Elizabeth of Knoxville and daughter Bonnie, of Cincinnati.

There will be a private burial on June 13, 2025, at the East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery. Reception to follow from 1:00-3:00 at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church, 110 Sugarwood Drive, Knoxville. In lieu of flowers, donations are welcomed in his memory to the Natural Resources Defense Council. https://action.nrdc.org/donation/3466-tribute-gift-nrdc. Online condolences may be expressed at www.mynattfh.com.