HOT SPRINGS — Clay Farrar, 70,

of Hot Springs died on February 27, 2021. He was born and raised in Hot Springs.

Farrar was retired, having previously been a partner in the Hot Springs law firm of Farrar and Williams PLLC. Like his father, the late Clayton Farrar, Sr and his grandfather, the late Virgil Evans, Clay specialized in trust and estate planning matters. He was a graduate of Rhodes College and SMU Law School.

Clay is survived by his wife, Kathy Kelley Farrar with whom he was married for 40 years. He is further survived by two daughters, Kellye Wulfers Lopez, a designer (married to Romeo Lopez). and daughter, Lara Farrar, an international freelance journalist. He is also survived by his sister, Frances Ellen Smith of Clarksville, Ark. His parents, Clayton and Dana Farrar, preceded him in death.

Since the 1980s Clay was active in community affairs including having served as president of the Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, National Park Rotary Club, and the Hot Springs 50 for the future.

Farrar led efforts in the 1980s to revitalize the National Park in Hot Springs and was instrumental in procuring federal funds for the redevelopment of the Fordyce Bathhouse as the National Park Visitor Center. Recently, he served as the chairperson of the Chamber of Commerce committee that took on the challenge of repurposing the large ACTI complex (formerly the Army Navy Hospital) located in downtown Hot Springs.

In the last several decades, Clay has written extensively about local history including over a dozen articles in the Garland County Historical Society’s annual publication. He has also written a monthly column about Hot Springs history for the Hot Springs Sentinel Record. He also wrote scripts for a number of charitable events that honored various individuals.

Farrar was a member of the Hot Springs National Park Rotary club for over 42 years. He served as annual program chairperson for five separate years. In 2016, Clay wrote and produced a video celebrating the 100-year history of the club.

Clay’s wishes were to be cremated, and his ashes scattered on Jack Mountain overlooking the Hot Springs community that he loved. In lieu of flowers donations maybe made to Stop Animal Cruelty organization, PO Box 1521, Malvern, Ark. 72104 or Habitat for Humanity, 240 Hobson Avenue, Hot Springs, Ark. 71901. Memorial service arrangements will be announced in the near future. The online obituary, guestbook, and memorial tribute are available at www.GrossFuneralHome.com.