Ben David Fuqua, age 81, died in Tulsa Ok, on Sunday, March 17, 2024.  He was born February 16, 1943 at his grandmother’s home in Graves County, Ky to the late Ben D and Edith Mae Fuqua.  He graduated from Farmington High School, Class of 1961.  Ben married Janis Ruth Andrus on June 9, 1962 and they were blessed with nearly 51 years of marriage at the time of her death.

Ben was very loving person who cared deeply for others. He retired from Missouri State University as a Professor of Soil Science and is credited as the father of the blueberry industry in Missouri.  Ben was a member of Schweitzer Methodist Church and the Homebuilders Class.  God got a great man; he will be greatly missed by family and many friends.

Ben is survived by his children:  Allyson and Scott Nicholson, North Pole, Alaska; Alicia Farris and Matt Stevens, Skiatook, OK.  He was “Papa” to his special grandchildren:  David and Courtney Nicholson; Tyler and Hannah Nicholson; Rowdy Farris; Dylan and Lynia Farris; Maci and Mattox Stevens; and Great Grandchildren Calvin and Wade Nicholson; Dean and Drew Farris.  He is also survived by his sister, Cindy Dunn, Murray, KY; sister-in-law Pat Andrus, Sanford, NC; sister-in-law Jan Andrus, Orlando, FL; and a large number of nieces and nephews.

Ben was preceded in death by his wife Janis Fuqua, his parents Ben and Edith Fuqua, his brother and sister-in-law John and Elizabeth Fuqua, his brother-in-law Bob Dunn and son-in-law Aaron Farris.

Visitation will be from 5:00-8:00 pm on Thursday, March 21 at Greenlawn Funeral Home East.  The funeral will be held in Schweitzer United Church on Friday, March 22 at 10:00 a.m. with Pastors Clayton Smith and Sheila Pippin presiding. Burial will be in Farmington Cemetery in Farmington, Ky.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to the Ben and Janis Fuqua Agricultural Scholarship Fund at MSU Foundation.