O'FALLON, IL. - The family of Debra K. Farmer, a longtime volunteer with the LaVerna Evans PTO, has donated to the LaVerna Evans Elementary School library in O’Fallon, Illinois, the school’s PTO said. The donation was made in her honor following her death on Dec. 5, 2025.
The LaVerna Evans PTO said it was “incredibly grateful to the Farmer family for their generous donation to our school library in her honor.”
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The school is located at 802 Dartmouth Drive in O’Fallon and is part of O’Fallon Community Consolidated School District #90.
“Mrs. Debbie Farmer was once a dedicated volunteer at LaVerna Evans Elementary School, and their children proudly attended Evans as students,” the PTO said. “It means so much to us when families who have been part of our school community continue to give back in such a meaningful way.”
The PTO said the donation will help expand student access to reading materials. “Because of your generosity, our students will have access to even more engaging books and resources that inspire a love of reading and learning,” the group said.
The PTO also thanked those involved in the check presentation, naming “Debbie’s husband Ray Farmer, O’Fallon Public Library board president Melissa Fanning, and O’Fallon Library Director Ryan Johnson.”
Farmer, 77, was “beloved wife of 59 years of Ray,” according to the obituary. She is survived by her husband, Ray; daughters Melissa (Cole) and Amy; brother Larry (Pam); and “several nieces and nephews,” the obituary said. She was preceded in death by her parents, Claude and Fern; brother Lindy; and sister Dolores.
The obituary said Farmer “devoted many hours of volunteering with United Way and the Laverna Evans PTO and, along with her friends, co-founded the PTO at Marie Shaffer School.”
It also noted she worked as an executive assistant at Boatmen’s National Bank and later at Parks College of St. Louis University.
