Dr. Guy Farmer, 74, longtime chief of staff at Calhoun Health Services and community leader in Calhoun City, died Thursday night at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Visitation is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 21 from 3-5 p.m. at Pryor Funeral Home in Calhoun City. The funeral service will be Sunday, Jan. 22 at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Calhoun City.

Dr. Farmer became active in the Calhoun City community immediately upon arriving 50 years ago straight out of medical school.

He served as president of the Calhoun City Rotary Club when they led the way in getting the building constructed that would later become the National Guard Armory.

He was among the original group of approximately 10 people that formed the Calhoun City Development Association that later evolved into the Chamber of Commerce. He was a founding member of Pine Hills Country Club.

He served two terms as a town alderman in the 1970s during which he served as police commissioner; the town built its first tennis courts; the town built the first paved basketball courts; the town built baseball fields for young and older ages; established the Calhoun City Industrial Park; built a new library; built new fire and police departments; and dramatically improved housing for less fortunate citizens with public housing structures.

He served on the airport board that ultimately led to the construction of the county airport in Pittsboro.

He played an integral role in obtaining the certificate of need for the county hospital to be built in Calhoun City and the county nursing home, ultimately built by the hospital.

Dr. Farmer served as director of the nursing home from its onset until a few years ago when he resigned. He continued to serve as chief of staff at Calhoun Health Services up until his death.

A more extensive obituary with service and family information will be published as soon as it is released by the family.