“Open the gate, let them out, and welcome boys. And away we go! Twenty, will you give me five?”

Thomas “Tom” Richard O’Farrell Jr. passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends on October 6, 2024 after a courageous battle with cancer, relying on his faith to walk the path God had chosen for him.

Tom was born on July 24th, 1953 to Gertrude and Tom O’Farrell Sr. After four daughters, Tom Sr. jokingly referred to his son as his earnest endeavor. Sister #5 arrived in 1957. Tom was adored and pampered by all his sisters, but had a tendency to terrorize his younger sister Kate, especially during commercial breaks while watching cartoons.

Tom attended St. John Catholic School on Main Street where he received first communion and confirmation. Tom’s childhood on The Windy Hills Farm on Sullivan Rd was idyllic with numerous adventures and fun times with his family, including his Larrick cousins. At age 10, he began working on the farm with the thoroughbred horses his father bred.

In 1970, at age 17, Tom’s dad passed away abruptly and his world changed. Instead of applying to art school as he had planned, he was groomed to take over his father’s many responsibilities.

Tom graduated from Westminster High School in 1972. That summer, he attended Repperts Auctioneer School in Indiana and graduated as his father had in 1956. Tom became a businessman at age 18 running the farm’s horse breeding business, and auctioneering, while later on he sold insurance and real estate, and rented storage. Although he stepped away from some of these businesses over the years, he remained an auctioneer for almost 40 years only stepping down due to health reasons.

At the time of his death, he was co-owner of O’Farrell Storage with his loving wife Becky. Prior to that, he co-owned T.R. O’Farrell Auction Inc. with his longtime business partner and friend M.H. Conover, who helped Tom immensely over their many years of friendship.

Tom loved selling and the relationships he developed with his customers. During his years as an auctioneer, he sold everything from high dollar antiques to box lots. Tom volunteered for numerous charity auctions including cake sales at the county fair and Newspapers in Education. Boyhood friends Mike Whitson and Mike Conover also attended Repperts, and auctioneered with him for many years.

During these years, he enjoyed riding his Harley motorcycle with sidecar and hanging out with Baltimore Colt players at The Pit. He later became a Steelers fan, after meeting his wife Becky.

Tom was a volunteer/buddy at Camp T.R., the bereavement camp for children formed by Carroll Hospice & named after his late son, T.R. O’Farrell III, whom he lost in 1993 to a tragic accident. Tom’s compassion for the children and his ability to get them to share their feelings by telling his grief story was just another testament to his faith and ability to reach people at any age.

Tom was a lifetime member of the #2277 Elks Lodge, and was a member of The Knights of Columbus at Saint John Catholic Church. He was the third generation of his family to attend Saint John’s where he volunteered in several positions. Over the years, he was an usher, he helped his wife run the children’s mini mall at the Christmas Bazaar, and he also volunteered with RCIA and Lifeteen.

Tom was heavily involved with scouts for over 20 years. His involvement started as a Cub Scout leader with his son T.R. and continued with his son Sam becoming an Eagle Scout. He went on numerous camping and hiking trips with the scouts, occasionally going out West. His favorite was the hiking trip he took to Philmont with his son Sam.

Tom was a self-proclaimed jack of all trades and master of none. That being said as a child, he built a life size guillotine, rocket ship, and a rickshaw (just to name a few), made from scraps he found around the farm. As an adult, he built a hot rod coupe from the frame up and could repair almost anything. His latest project was an adult tricycle he was building from spare parts.

Tom was an amazing cook, and was famous for his homemade soups. He gave several cooking seminars on how to cook over a fire at Living History events and a few blacksmithing demonstrations at The Carroll County Farm Museum.

Living History was another one of his passions. He started with Civil War reenactment in his teens, but later transitioned to the Mountain Man period, and finally settled on the French & Indian war period for the last 30 years of his life.

He was a proud of member of The Patuxents, a living history group which held a Market Faire at Fort Frederick for many years, which helped raise money for the fort and it’s upkeep. He sewed many of his own clothes especially in the beginning when they were difficult to find. Tom was an avid camper whether in a tent or in one of the many campers he owned.

According to Tom, he had never met a stranger, just friends. With all of his different interests and hobbies, his faith, family, and friends were always his top priority.

Tom is survived by his wife Becky (Sweet Pea), Son Sam and Partner Annakarina Rincon, Grandson Kieran O’Farrell, and ex daughter-in-law Laurarose Dunn-O’Farrell. He is also survived by his sisters Pat Friese and Husband Bill, Sharon Jones, Byrdie Ricketts, Kate Brauning and Husband Gary, Sisters-In-Law Vicky Harrison and Husband Billy, and Jennifer Miller and Partner Brian Brown, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and too many friends to count.

Tom is pre-deceased by his parents, Senator Tom Sr. and mother Gertrude, his son T.R. O’Farrell III, sister Rosalie Brenneman, nephew Billy Friese, and brothers-in-law Scott Ricketts, Phil Jones, Nelson Brenneman, and Ricky Farver.

Visitation will be held Monday, October 21, 2024 from 1 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m.  at the St. John Catholic Church Portico, 43 Monroe St., Westminster. The 6 to 9 visitation will be a traditional Irish Wake, including sharing memories of Tom and raising a glass to honor his life. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 11 a.m. at St. John Catholic Church, 43 Monroe St., Westminster with Father Mark Bialek officiating.  Interment will follow at St. John Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dove House, St. John Life Teen, or Troop 420.

“Every man dies, not every man really lives”