Stella Evans Farwell
Stella Evans Farwell was born June 30, 1939 and passed away on Jan. 27, 2014. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2008. Stella is survived by her husband Phillip Allen Urion; her children Lynne Farwell Johnson and Daniel Hubbard Johnson III; stepchildren David Kimball Urion and Mary Clare McCully; her sisters Lynne Farwell White and Martha Farwell Levert; and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Lynne Hecht Farwell and Frank Evans Farwell.
Stella grew up in New Orleans where she was Queen of Carnival in 1960. Her volunteer activities included being a founding member of the Louisiana Nature Center, St. Charles Avenue Committee, and Preservation Resource Center. She served on the Executive Committees of the Junior League of New Orleans, Louise S. McGehee School, and the Christian Women’s Exchange.
Stella’s business background includes serving as vice president and principal of Exhibit Designers Inc.; director of Advertising and Public Relations for Solar Power Corporation; and president of Energy Alternatives.
In 1984 she left the business for an art career.
Stella moved from New Orleans in 1990 to become a full time resident of Captiva and to pursue her art career. Stella’s artwork is in private and corporate collections. It has been in various juried, group, and solo exhibitions, as well as in the Madden Museum in Colorado. It has also been featured in local and national publications. Two pieces are in the permanent collection at BIG ARTS in Schein Hall, and the Captiva Civic Associaiton has a permanent piece hanging in its Board Room.
On the islands, Stella founded the Creativity program and was involved in numerous volunteer activities. She was a volunteer firefighter, vice president of Island Water Association, president of the Captiva Civic Association, commissioner of the Captiva Fire Control District, and founder of the Captiva History Project.
She also served on the Board of Directors of BIG ARTS, was interior space planning consultant for the new “Ding” Darling education building, and a board member of the CCA Foundation.
She was a member of the National Society of Colonial Dames of America, Garden Club of America, the Captiva Island Yacht Club, and the Sanctuary Golf Club.
Stella’s travels included trips to all seven continents. She went to both the geographic North Pole and geographic South Pole.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the Captiva Civic Association Foundation, Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation, or a charity of your choice.
A service of celebration of Stella’s life will be held at St. Michael’s and All Angels Episcopal Church at 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7, to be followed by a reception in the Parish Hall. The family asks you wear bright clothing.