Joey "Coach" Farrill, 62, of Panama City, FL, passed away on June 4, 2023, surrounded by family and friends.

The fourth of five children, Joey was born on January 30, 1961, in Perry, FL, to parents James and Zelda (McCall) Farrill. Throughout his childhood, Joey worked to support his family and fulfill his dream of being a professional baseball player. In 1972, Joey was a finalist in the National Pitch, Hit, and Throw competition where he met Henry "Hank" Aaron, two years before Hammerin' Hank surpassed Babe Ruth's home run record. A Panama City native at heart, Joey moved to Bay County at just sixteen—working his way through high school to support himself. A graduate of A. Crawford Mosley High School, Joey, a lefty, was a starting pitcher for the Mosley Baseball Team. It's here where he met the love of his life, Lisa Kay (Smith) Farrill, a bat girl for the Dolphins. They were married for 40 years.

In 1979, Joey was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 25th round. He opted to continue his education and baseball career at Gulf Coast Community College where, in 1981, he was drafted again, except this time in the fifth round by the Boston Red Sox. Although Joey never made it to the big leagues, he continued to share his love of the game with countless players throughout Bay County and the Florida Panhandle, serving as coach to some and a stand-in father for others. One of Joey's proudest moments was being "Coach Farrill" to his own son at RL Turner Little League and as a volunteer scout for the Colorado Rockies and Atlanta Braves.

Following his stint in baseball, Joey would go on to attend ranger school for the Florida Department of Natural Resources, where he worked as a member of the Florida Park Service for over twenty years. It's during this time that he would become a dad to two children that he adored, Katy Jo (McDaniel) and Cody Lee Farrill. A supporter of nature and conservation, Joey would come to be known as "Ranger Rick" by his children throughout their primary years. He spent countless weekends taking the family camping across the state, where he would teach his kids about, "leaving the earth better than we found it," and take them on hikes, boat rides, and of course, fishing trips.

His family had deep roots in the fishing community, which brought Joey back to the industry in 2003. It's during this time that he reinforced to his children the value of hard work and grit. He continued to work in the business until his diagnosis with head, neck, and throat cancer in 2009. Following his diagnosis, the community rallied around Joey, as his treatment coincided with the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. A proud cancer survivor, Joey was cared for by a dedicated care team at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Over the next 14 years, he would support cancer survivors through his story, encouraging his own daughter to FIGHT and WIN the battle against the disease just last year.

Joey spent his final years recovering and fighting off several illnesses. But this did not stop him, rather it motivated him. He continued serving his community as a dedicated team member for the Bay County Commission and a proud "JoJo" to two grandchildren, Ella Reese and Emma June. A lover of music, Joey would frequently listen to oldies while piddling around the house and caring for his mother-in-law Jackie Smith and beloved Labrador retriever, Scout. As an adoring dad, Joey was frequently found talking about his kids and how proud they made him. He loved nothing more than talking about their successes and paths they had chosen, Katy Jo in elementary education and Cody in public policy, or as Joey called it, "politics".

Joey leaves behind a loving family including his beloved wife of 40 years Lisa (Smith) Farrill; his daughter of nearly 34 years, Katy Jo McDaniel, her husband Matt McDaniel of Huntsville, AL, and their two children Ella Reese (7) and Emma June (2); his son of 30 years, Cody Farrill of Tallahassee, FL; his mother-in-law, Jackie Smith of Panama City, FL; his adopted great aunt, Carolyn Wilder of Panama City Beach, FL; his sister-in-law Sherrie Canady of Panama City Beach, FL; his siblings Latrelle Wilson (Joe) of Perry, FL, Sammy (Bettina) of Panama City, FL, and David (Monica) of Valdosta, GA; and a host of nieces and nephews including: Lauren Griffin (Justin) and Kristie McLane (Kristopher) of Panama City Beach, FL; Lindsay Jarvis of Valdosta, GA; Brian Wilson (Angela) of Perry, FL; and Ryan and Kendall Farrill of Valdosta, GA.

Joey will be remembered as a man of faith, a man who never met a stranger, a man who would give everything he had to anyone at any time, a man who was a phone call away, and most of all a man who NEVER GAVE UP.

A celebration of life has been scheduled for Twelve noon (CST) on Friday, June 9 at Forest Park Methodist Church in Panama City, FL. The family will receive friends from 10:30-12, prior to the service. The family would invite those in attendance to wear their favorite baseball cap to honor Joey and the sport he loved.

The family would also like to thank the professional and caring staff of HCA Florida Gulf Coast and UAB Hospital for their support of Joey during this difficult time.

Expressions of sympathy may be submitted and viewed at wilsonfuneralhome.net. Those wishing to honor Joey through a charitable contribution are encouraged to donate in his honor to the Florida State Parks Foundation, https://secure.everyaction.com/gjGq6RvZQku9Kia1RqoaPg2