Sinclair Farmer

Fredrick Sinclair Farmer, 61, passed away Sunday, September 29 at Hillcrest South Hospital in Tulsa following a brief illness. Sinclair was raised in Sallisaw, Oklahoma but spent the second half of his life in Tulsa. Under the direction of Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Service, the funeral will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 at First Baptist Church Sallisaw, where the family had been lifelong members.

Sinclair was born on September 8, 1963 in Fort Smith, Arkansas to Margaret Ann (Armstrong) Farmer and Archie Don Farmer, Sr. He was Ann’s beloved “baby” being the fourth and final of four siblings. 

Following graduation from Sallisaw High School in 1982, he later obtained a degree from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah. He was a three-year starter in football and played strong safety on the 1980 and 1981 State Championship Football teams, earning All-Conference his senior year. On November 2, 1990, he married Sandra (Cheek) Farmer. He and his wife later moved to Tulsa where they raised their two daughters, Cassandra “Cassie” and Alexandra “Lexie”, now 26 and 24.

 Mr. Farmer was a successful business owner and enjoyed anything related to the outdoors. In 1993, he founded a Back Yard Burger restaurant in Tulsa. Within a few years, he expanded the franchise to a 3-store chain before selling the stores years later and pursuing other business and investment opportunities.

He loved lake life, scuba diving, hunting, fishing, golf and the mountains. In his prime, he could obliterate 22-25 clay pigeons on the skeet range and put a scare into even par on the golf course … mostly from his athletic abilities and without need of extensive practice. He was truly a gifted, natural athlete.

All things in life, however, paled in comparison to his love and devotion to his beloved daughters, a devotion that was fully reciprocated. Sandra and both girls were at his side throughout his final few days in the hospital. His most cherished times by far were spent with Cassie and Lexie, taking them to school, teaching them to fish and snow ski, water activities and especially numerous and regular family vacations. The proof is in the pudding and his and Sandra’s devotion paid off in spades with two exquisite daughters, both of whom were the apple of his eye to say the least.

 Survivors are his wife, Sandra, of the home; two daughters, Cassandra Marshall and her husband, Trace of Houston, TX and Alexandra Farmer of Dallas, TX; two sisters, Lea Ann Bumpers and her husband, Brent of Little Rock, AR and Elaine Hensley and her husband, Chris of Sallisaw, OK; one brother, Don Farmer of Lake Tenkiller, OK; mother, Ann Farmer of Sallisaw, OK; uncle, Sinclair Armstrong and family friend, John Traw, both of Lake Tenkiller, OK; along with many other relatives and friends.

 He was preceded in death by his father, Archie Don Farmer, Sr.

Active Pallbearers will be Fred Watts, Grant Rhodes, Perry Farmer, Clayton Lee Farmer, George Miles, Bo Byers, Trace Marshall and Jack Wehrly.

Honorary Pallbearers will be members of the back-to-back 1980 and 1981 State Championship Football Teams, 1982 Sallisaw High School Graduates, members of Phi Lambda Chi Fraternity at Northeastern State University and Marty Stewart.

Viewing will be 2:00 - 5:00 pm on Tuesday at Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Home in Sallisaw and 6:00 – 8:00 pm at First Baptist Church in Sallisaw where the family will greet from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Sallisaw Black Diamond Foundation, P.O. Box 494, Sallisaw, OK 74955 or the charity of your choice.