Dr. Farrell Dalton Ard, age 66, died on March 28, 2023, in Houston, Texas. He was born on January 6,1957 in Hammond, Louisiana to the late Elzie and Jessie Bell (Carney) Ard. Farrell is loved for how he loved: generously and without condition. He extended warmth and good will to everyone, following the example of a Savior to whom he devoted his life.  His five children knew they could always come to him for understanding and encouragement, no matter what.  Farrell and Kellie built a family and a 35-year marriage around their love for one another, their children, the Lord, their church, and community. Growing up in rural Louisiana, Farrell was the first in his family to attend college. He worked very hard to pay for his years at Clark College and Blue Mountain College.  Then, after graduating from seminary at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 1985, he became the first church planter in Arkansas.  Elmdale Baptist Church in Springdale called Farrell to begin a church in Goshen.  The next summer, he met Kellie at a family picnic at her aunt's house.  After they married in 1987, Farrell was pastor at First Southern Baptist in Goshen and also worked as a chaplain at the VA Hospital in Fayetteville. In 1999, Farrell accepted a hospital chaplain's position at Medical Center Hospital in Odessa, Texas. Farrell and Kellie packed the kids off to Texas, where he never missed their sporting events or a chance to include them in his work as pastor and chaplain. The children grew up around the hospital, often spending time with him at work after finishing homeschooling for the day.  By example, he taught them about living in service to others, how to shake hands firmly and look them in the eye, the power of manners and kindness, and how to present your best self in your community. In the middle of a busy life at home and work, Farrell completed a doctoral program at Fuller Theological Seminary in 2016. He served on the boards of several charities, filled in as interim pastor at numerous local churches, including 12 years at West Side Christian Church.  In his role as Director of Pastoral Care, Farrell reached beyond the walls of the hospital and into a community who came to know and love him. In moments of crisis in the ER or joy in the delivery room, the unpredictable daily range of emotion in a hospital, from sudden tragedy to long-suffering and loss, of grief and shock, Farrell was there to take care of people.  Thousands of people over 23 years. The patients, their families, doctors, nurses, and staff.  Those he spent a few hours with and those he grew close to over years, he served them and counseled them and loved them, and they loved him. Farrell loved sports—the New Orleans Saints, the St. Louis Cardinals, collecting knives and pens, playing guitar, good Cajun food, Johnny Cash, the hymn "At Calvary," and Corinthians II 5:17.

He is survived by his wife, Kellie (Miller) Ard; one daughter, Chelsee Ard of Yucca Valley, California; sons, Blake, Anthony, Dayne and Dylan Ard, all of Odessa, Texas; one granddaughter, Brielle Ard; brothers, Faron (Pat) Ard of Sevierville, Tennessee and Farley Ard of Husser, Louisiana; mother-in-law, Geneva Miller of Springdale, Arkansas; two sisters-in-law, Kay Miller of Springdale, Arkansas, Kim (Kirk) Drummond and children of Austin, Texas; and a host of extended family and friends.

Visitation 5:00pm – 7:00pm, Monday, April 3, 2023, at Heritage Funeral Home. Funeral services 10:00am, Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at Cross Church in Springdale, Arkansas with Dr. Gary Digby officiating. Burial to follow at Friendship Cemetery.

In Odessa, the community plans a memorial service at 10am, Friday, April 7 at Texas Tech, ACB Community Room, officiated by Chaplain Doug Herget. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a memorial at Medical Center Health System .