Mitch Farmer’s heart was flawed but big.

As a husband, father, professional and friend, Farmer left behind an indelible impression as a thoughtful, caring man with all who met him, said his best friend.

"Everybody loved Mitch, and Mitch loved everybody," said Matthew Meeks.

Farmer, 36, died Wednesday from complications from a heart condition he had since birth. His funeral is set for 2 p.m. today at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.

Farmer’s wife, Kerry Rich Farmer, said her husband faced his serious heart condition with courage and strength. His warmth and honesty never faltered, she said.

"He was the most genuine man you could ever meet," she said.

A visitation Saturday at Little and Davenport Funeral Home drew hundreds. Farmer was a well-known native of Hall County and owner and partner with Keller Williams Realty.

"He made everybody feel like you were his best friend and that you made a difference," said colleague Judy Presley, who hired Farmer at age 21. "He always had a smile."

Outside of work, Farmer organized fundraisers for local nonprofits and also offered more quiet, personal acts of charity. On more than one occasion he covered someone’s mortgage payment or wrote them out a check to help meet living expenses.

"I can’t tell you how many times people would come up and say, ‘Thank you for what you did for our family,’" his wife said.

Farmer loved music and was an avid boater.

He and his wife of four-plus years enjoyed parenthood with their 17-month-old daughter, Olivia.

"He adored Olivia," his wife said. "He said, ‘We thought we knew love before she was born, but we didn’t know what we were missing.’"

Farmer was born with transposition of the great vessels and underwent surgery when he was 18 months old. He had no outward symptoms of the condition until age 30, and in recent years was placed on a pacemaker and later a defibrillator. He was scheduled to have surgery Friday to prepare for a possible heart transplant.

Farmer’s wife said her husband was apologetic for being weakened by his condition and didn’t want people to trouble themselves over him.

"He didn’t want to be a burden on anyone," she said.

Farmer was admired by family members for his achievements in a short life.

"If Mitchell set his mind on something, it was done," said his older brother, Tim, 43. "He was an inspiration. Little brothers are supposed to look up to big brothers, but in this case, the big brother looked up to the little brother."

Farmer’s wife said her husband seemed too good to be true. In their time together, he was never anything but the loving and considerate man she first met.

"We were together over 10 years and he never changed," she said.