Jimmy D. McFarland was born on Nov. 23, 1938, at Breckenridge Hospital in Austin, Texas, to Hubert V. McFarland and Leona Pearl Simpson McFarland. He died on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015.
Jimmy spent his childhood in Austin, Leander, New Deal and Lubbock, Texas. Jimmy’s family moved to Mack, Colo., at the age of 14 in early 1953. He attended and was graduated from Fruita High School in 1958. After receiving his high school diploma, he went to Costa Mesa, Calif., where he briefly worked in some L.A. yacht yards. After his time there, he hitchhiked back to Cisco, Utah. There, Jimmy worked in the underground uranium mines in Utah and Colorado from 1958-1961.
On Nov. 23, 1961, Jimmy married Sharon Faye Murphy in Fruita, Colo., and to this union came Teresa, Trula and Tara. His family moved to Meeker in the winter of 1961.
During this time he was able to attend college with aid from Colorado State Rehabilitation after a relapse of rheumatic fever. Jimmy was able to graduate magna cum laude from Rangely Junior College in 1964 with an associate’s degree in applied science/electronic technology, and went on to graduate from Colorado State University in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.
Following graduation, he worked for Schlumberger Well Services as a logging engineer from June 1968 to December 1969. He continued on to work for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as a project engineer from January 1969 to September 1975. During that time, he became a registered professional engineer in Texas.
After returning to Meeker in September 1975, he worked for Chuck Whiteman and Associates until June of 1978. On March 29, 1986, Jimmy married Patricia M. Maddox and, at this time, the two families combined to include 10 children.
Jimmy worked for Colowyo Coal Co. as a mining engineer until retiring in December 1996. After retirement, he continued to work for Chuck Whiteman and Associates until health matters forced him to retire again in 2012.
Jimmy loved to play bluegrass and county music on his guitar, hunting, fishing, camping, rock hunting and ATV/UTV riding. Also in his spare time, Jimmy was an EMT/volunteer firefighter for Meeker and then Colowyo for nine years.
Jimmy is preceded in death by: his parents, Hubert and Leona McFarland; brothers Hubert Jr. and Raymond McFarland; stepdaughter Vicky Thompson; stepson John Brown; and he was most recently united in heaven with his wife, Patricia, who passed two days later, on Dec. 7, 2015.
He is survived by: his sisters, Wanda Harris and Jesse North; daughters Teresa (Randy), Trula (Doug), and Tara (Mike); stepchildren Linda, Sherry (Jim), Cynthia, Susan (Anthony) and Charles (Amber); 29 grandchildren; and 38 great grandchildren.
Memorial services were held Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015, at Faith Baptist Church in Meeker, Colo. A joint interment service with Jimmy’s deceased wife, Patricia M. McFarland, took place on Dec. 12, 2015, at Highland Cemetery in Meeker.
Meeker resident Pat M. McFarland passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Monday, Dec. 7, 2015, at Pioneers Medical Center in Meeker. She was 82.
A graveside memorial service was held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015, at Highland Cemetery in Meeker. Pat was laid to rest with her husband, Jim.
Patricia Marilyn Carroll was born to James and Vera Alice (Saxton) Carroll on Aug. 14, 1933, in Manhattan, Kan. She spent her childhood and attended schools in Topeka.
Pat was a devoted wife and loving mother, grandmother and great great-grandmother. She loved to plan football parties and always cheered for the Denver Broncos. When she was younger, Pat loved to travel and go on camping and fishing trips. One of Pat’s greatest pastimes was listening to her husband, Jim, play guitar.
Pat will be deeply missed by her family, close friends and will be remembered for her loving and caring spirit.
Pat is survived by: one son, Rusty Maddox of Rangely, Colo.; four daughters: Linda Howell of Delta, Colo., Sherry Scott of Ruidoso, N.M., Cynthia Guptil of Pahrump, Nev., and Susan Gallegos of Montrose, Colo.; three stepdaughters: Tara Wille, Teresa Ridgeway and Trula Simmons; and one brother, Larry Steinbrink.
Pat was preceded in death by: her son, John Brown Jr.; one daughter, Vickie Thompson; and one sister, Connie Knight. Pat was welcomed into Heaven by her beloved husband of 29 years, Jim McFarland, who passed away two days prior.
