Fareed Magallie "Fred" Farha was born in Drumright, Oklahoma, on June 20th, 1928 to Smye and Magallie "Dick" Farha. He was the firstborn of what would become a blessed Lebanese family of three sons and two daughters.

After relocating twice in Oklahoma, the family ultimately settled in Childress, Texas, where they owned and operated a successful retail store in the heart of downtown. Because of his parents' humble and generous spirit, Fred learned a love for hard work, serving others, and loyalty to family.

Upon high school graduation, Fred moved to Norman, Oklahoma, to attend the University of Oklahoma, then after two years transferred to Texas Tech where he completed a Bachelor of Business degree in 1950. Fred applied his education and family tradition to successfully own and operate a series of stylish retail clothing stores in west and central Texas. That led him to Vernon, Texas, where his first daughter Janet was born, in 1953.

Fred moved to Elk City, Oklahoma, in 1958 to open a new ladies' ready-to-wear store where a few years later, much to his delight, his parents would join him. There, in 1959, as an added blessing, his second daughter Leslie was born.

Later Fred left retail business ownership behind to begin a highly successful career representing various clothing manufacturers, skillfully building their business from cost to coast. During this time, he made his home in Dallas, Miami, and New York City. After the passing of his father and the relocation of his mother to Oklahoma City, Fred settled there to be close to family and create many happy memories for himself and others for many years.

Fred ultimately moved to Norman, Oklahoma, to be closer to his daughter Leslie and her family. He found great peace in their company and their influence in his renewed commitment to understanding and following his faith. He spent many hours in contemplation and prayer, often in his daily meditation alone in silence on the bench on the bank of the neighborhood lake. His deeper understanding and relationship with God led him to a peaceful humility and thankfulness for the One who made the heavens and the earth and who will judge the living and the dead, the One who "remembers our sins no more" and who made him His own beloved child by His love and grace.

Known for his near photographic memory, Fred could mesmerize and entertain family and friends with his 97 years of memories of people, events, places he’d been, and things he’d read and learned. We will miss hearing the knowledge he possessed.

Though Fred always made friends easily wherever he lived or traveled, his lifelong best friend was his next younger brother, Emile, whom he trusted and sought out like no other. Throughout life, they spoke daily and shared friends, experiences, and each other’s love. Their bond was absolute.

For the last two years of his life, Fred enjoyed making new friends and acquaintances at Rivermont Independent Living in Norman.

To add to a blessed life, beginning in April 2025, Fred, Leslie, and the entire family enjoyed a happy reunion with Fred's first daughter Janet.

Fred was preceded in death by his father Magallie "Dick" Farha, his mother Smye Simon Farha, and his brother, Jim Farha. He is survived by his brother, Dr. Emile Farha of Oklahoma City, sister Barbara Saied of Wichita, sister Celia Hein and her husband Bill of Oklahoma City, daughter Janet Gordon and her husband John of Dallas, daughter Leslie Smith and her husband Jim of Purcell, Oklahoma, four beloved grandchildren, and twelve cherished great-grandchildren.