Tene Farley marks her 90’s with a second skydiving adventure on July 11, 2025
Rockwall, TX (July 16, 2025) – On a warm Friday afternoon Skydive Spaceland Dallas in Whitewright, Texas welcomes Kim Townsend and her spunky Aunt Tene for an extraordinary celebration. Tene, whose zest for life defies age, is preparing to mark her 94th birthday with a skydive adventure – one she tackled before and sought to experience again.
This time the thrill is a grand affair with a total of eight daring friends and family members making the jump, and many more cheering them on from land.
Tene’s first jump 13 years earlier left her exhilarated so, at a recent family gathering, when Kim mentioned the possibility of jumping again Tene’s response was, “I have been waiting for someone to ask”. True to her spirit, as she previously added paragliding and hot air ballooning to her list of adventures.
The family, with a long history of boundless energy and spirit, believes in living life to the fullest.
Kim, who today has multiple jumps under her belt, shared her first skydive with her beloved and feisty grandmother, Dottie “Mimi” Townsend, over 20 years ago! Mimi was a remarkable lady who instilled in her family a zest for life. As Director of the Lubbock Coliseum, Mimi was a force – and included amongst her adventures riding the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus elephants each year as the processional wound its way through Lubbock. With her passing, Mimi’s headstone proudly and appropriately declared, “She lived the life she loved and loved the life she lived.”
Now, this family carries on the joie de vivre – letting nothing stand in their way.
Facing challenge head on is how they approached Kim’s brother Clint’s diagnosis with ALS. That diagnosis impacted how they see life and they recognize that it also put them in places and situations they might not have otherwise enjoyed.
Kim’s life has been filled with adventure and a varied and unique career path. Once a touring singer/songwriter, she also spent time as a coroner’s assistant. That experience along with Clint’s diagnosis left her intimately aware that life is short and seizing opportunities, while being respectfully cautious, is something to savor.
When her brother was diagnosed, Kim, a Rockwall County Master Gardener, set about creating flower beds at the new handicap accessible Heath home her parents had custom built. In the process she encountered numerous bees. Calling a bee remover, and fascinated with the process, she convinced him to mentor her in the ways of bees. Today, after taking classes and learning all she could, Kim is a member of several bee-related organizations, including the Texas Association of Professional Bee Removers. Additionally, her personal aviary has grown to include over one hundred hives producing Silly Bee Honey, while also providing hive management services for numerous clients!
As a former drummer and singer, Clint understandably has seen how life can take us down unexpected paths and yet has used that path to embrace new activities. An accomplished author, who might not have chosen that path prior to his diagnosis, Clint uses eyegaze technology to “write with his eyes.” Having authored three titles to a well receiving crowd and with more novels nearing completion, Clint is hopeful that he might join the family skydiving – and the Skydive Spaceland team, who prioritize safety, is considering how that might happen.
Back row: Toni Childress, Nathan Childress, Scott Farley, Kari French
Skydiving can be tough to put into words for those who have not experienced it – but for Aunt Tene, one word is “wow!” In fact, following last week’s jump she is already anticipating another jump in her future!
Clearly the entire family is living and loving life, in a way that would make Mimi proud, and in doing show shares an admirable and inspiring message for us all, “life is short, don’t miss out.”
Blue Ribbon News Staff Report. Photos courtesy of Kim Townsend.
Family skydiving adventure adds zest to life added by Melanie M on
View all posts by Melanie M →