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Helen Farabee, a prominent civic leader in her own right, was particularly involved with mental health issues, and facilities, which first opened in 1969 in Wichita Falls and Graham, bear her name.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.helenfarabee.org/|title=Helen Farabee Regional Mental Health Mental Retardation Centers|publisher=helenfarabee.org|accessdate=December 5, 2009}}</ref> Senator Farabee worked to update the mental health code in line with much of his wife's efforts in the field. Mrs. Farabee died of [[lung cancer]] in Austin in July 1988, shortly after her husband had become the UT counsel. Before the decline in her health, she had briefly attempted to run in a [[special election]] to succeed her husband in the state Senate in 1988, but Democratic Party leaders anointed another candidate for the slot, state Representative Steve Carriker of Roby in Fisher County, who went on to win the fall campaign against the Republican businessman, Bobby Albert of Wichita Falls.<ref name=google/> Mrs. Farabee died not long after her attempt to run for the state Senate.​

Helen Farabee, a prominent civic leader in her own right, was particularly involved with mental health issues, and facilities, which first opened in 1969 in Wichita Falls and Graham, bear her name.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.helenfarabee.org/|title=Helen Farabee Regional Mental Health Mental Retardation Centers|publisher=helenfarabee.org|accessdate=December 5, 2009}}</ref> Senator Farabee worked to update the mental health code in line with much of his wife's efforts in the field. Mrs. Farabee died of [[lung cancer]] in Austin in July 1988, shortly after her husband had become the UT counsel. Before the decline in her health, she had briefly attempted to run in a [[special election]] to succeed her husband in the state Senate in 1988, but Democratic Party leaders anointed another candidate for the slot, state Representative Steve Carriker of Roby in Fisher County, who went on to win the fall campaign against the Republican businessman, Bobby Albert of Wichita Falls.<ref name=google/> Mrs. Farabee died not long after her attempt to run for the state Senate.​

 

In 1991, Ray Farabee remarried after more than two years as a widower. His second wife is the former Mary Margaret Albright (born 1939), a divorcee with two children, David (1964–1996) and Patricia (born 1968). She worked with Texas First Lady [[Laura Bush]] to found the Texas Book Festival. The first event opened a month after her son David overdosed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.austinwomanmagazine.com/Articles/2009/05_MAY/68_sf_2.html|title=Mary Margaret Farabee|publisher=aaustinwomanmagazine.com|accessdate=December 5, 2009}}</ref>

In 1991, Ray Farabee remarried after more than two years as a widower. His second wife is the former Mary Margaret Albright (born 1939), a divorcee with two children, David (1964–1996) and Patricia (born 1968). She worked with Texas First Lady [[Laura Bush]] to found the Texas Book Festival.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.austinwomanmagazine.com/Articles/2009/05_MAY/68_sf_2.html|title=Mary Margaret Farabee|publisher=aaustinwomanmagazine.com|accessdate=December 5, 2009}}</ref>

In 2000, Farabee retired from UT but remained for two years as executive assistant to the chancellor. He served on the state board of Blue Cross Blue Shield. In retirement, he was a volunteer for the [[Public Broadcasting Service]] and sits on the board of the Equal Justice Foundation, which funds up to $20 million annually in legal services for low-income Texans. Farabee and his wife also travel extensively. In 2006, while in [[New Zealand]] they coincidentally encountered Frank Kell Cahoon (1934-2013), a former classmate from Wichita Falls Senior High School and a former state representative from [[Midland]].<ref name=farabee/> In the 1965 legislative session, Cahoon was the only Republican in the 150-member Texas House.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/legeLeaders/members/memberDisplay.cfm?memberID=792&leg=60&from=sessionList|title=Frank Cahoon|publisher=lrl.state.tx.us|accessdate=March 13, 2011}}</ref>​

In 2000, Farabee retired from UT but remained for two years as executive assistant to the chancellor. He served on the state board of Blue Cross Blue Shield. In retirement, he was a volunteer for the [[Public Broadcasting Service]] and sits on the board of the Equal Justice Foundation, which funds up to $20 million annually in legal services for low-income Texans. Farabee and his wife also travel extensively. In 2006, while in [[New Zealand]] they coincidentally encountered Frank Kell Cahoon (1934-2013), a former classmate from Wichita Falls Senior High School and a former state representative from [[Midland]].<ref name=farabee/> In the 1965 legislative session, Cahoon was the only Republican in the 150-member Texas House.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lrl.state.tx.us/legeLeaders/members/memberDisplay.cfm?memberID=792&leg=60&from=sessionList|title=Frank Cahoon|publisher=lrl.state.tx.us|accessdate=March 13, 2011}}</ref>​

 

Farabee has been a longtime Democratic donor, having given to [[Bill Clinton]] and [[Barack H. Obama]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/neighbors.php?type=name&lname=FARABEE|title=Farabee campaign contributions|publisher=fundrace.huffingtonpost.com|accessdate=December 5, 2009}}</ref> in the presidential campaigns of 1992 and 2008 and, over the years, to congressional campaigns of the Democrats Jake Pickle, Martin Frost, Lloyd Doggett,, and Pete Geren. He also contributed in 1991 to state Senator Hugh Parmer, a former [[mayor]] of [[Fort Worth]], the Democrat who failed in the 1990 campaign against Republican [[U.S. Senator]] [[Phil Gramm]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://watchdog.net/contrib/78704/ray_farabee|title=Ray Farabee, 78704 Political Contributions|publisher=Watchdog.net|accessdate=December 5, 2009}}</ref>​

Farabee has been a longtime Democratic donor, having given to [[Bill Clinton]] and [[Barack H. Obama]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/neighbors.php?type=name&lname=FARABEE|title=Farabee campaign contributions|publisher=fundrace.huffingtonpost.com|accessdate=December 5, 2009}}</ref> in the presidential campaigns of 1992 and 2008 and, over the years, to congressional campaigns of the Democrats Jake Pickle, Martin Frost, Lloyd Doggett,, and Pete Geren. He also contributed in 1991 to state Senator Hugh Parmer, a former [[mayor]] of [[Fort Worth]], the Democrat who failed in the 1990 campaign against Republican [[U.S. Senator]] [[Phil Gramm]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://watchdog.net/contrib/78704/ray_farabee|title=Ray Farabee, 78704 Political Contributions|publisher=Watchdog.net|accessdate=December 5, 2009}}</ref>

 

In 2009, Ray and Mary Margaret Farabee were presented by former [[CBS]] anchorman [[Dan Rather]] the annual Clara Driscoll Arts Award, named for the Austin artist and philanthropist.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amoa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=claradriscollaward|title=Clara Driscoll Art Award|publisher=amoa.org|accessdate=December 5, 2009}}</ref> Farabee published his [[autobiography]] in 2009, basing the title on his premature birth: ''Ray Farabee: Making It Through the Night and Beyond: A Memoir''.<ref name=autobio/>​

In 2009, Ray and Mary Margaret Farabee were presented by former [[CBS]] anchorman [[Dan Rather]] the annual Clara Driscoll Arts Award, named for the Austin artist and philanthropist.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amoa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=claradriscollaward|title=Clara Driscoll Art Award|publisher=amoa.org|accessdate=December 5, 2009}}</ref> Farabee published his [[autobiography]] in 2009, basing the title on his premature birth: ''Ray Farabee: Making It Through the Night and Beyond: A Memoir''.<ref name=autobio/>​

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