Obituary of Cecil Lloyd McFarland

McFARLAND, Cecil Lloyd, born December 25, 1930 entered into eternal life on October 15, 2014 while under the loving care of McKendree Village and Alive Hospice. Known as Reverend Mac by his church family, Mr. Mac by his students and just Mac by all who crossed his path, he was blessed by God with many gifts. Reverend Mac used all of those gifts to the best of his ability to witness with compassion and understanding to glorify God. Mac loved and cherished the life and memory of his parents, John Marshall and Sephie Edmonds McFarland. He grew up in Clinton, Tennessee where he graduated from high school. One of eleven siblings, his brother, Ralph, and sisters, Reba Owens and Reva Walker still survive. Reverend Mac is married to the former Ann Marie Karashay of Saugerties, NY. She has been his devoted wife and caregiver for the past 45 years. Although Mac required a great deal of care during his extended illness, he always maintained a positive attitude throughout his life. Following high school Mac enlisted in the United States Air Force, after his service he entered Carson Newman College and after graduation he attended Drew University where he graduated with a Masters of Divinity. He was ordained by the Methodist Church and was commissioned as a Chaplain in the United States Air Force. Following his Chaplaincy he pastored churches for 38 years in both Tennessee and New York State. Mac retired from pastoring in 2005 after serving 14 years as pastor of the First Congregational Church in Crossville, TN. He also taught learning disabled students for 23 years for Northern Weschester (BOCES) in Briarcliff Manor, New York. He was considered to be a very successful teacher. He contributed greatly to the developing field of special education and retired from teaching in 1991. Mac also taught Sociology at Ulster County Community College in Stone Ridge, New York. McFarland's sense of duty and love for his country translated into his public service and leadership responsibilities. He was elected to the Board of Education for the Saugerties Central School District. He also served on the Ulster County Board of Cooperative Educational Services. In addition he was also past County Commander of the American Legion in Ulster County, NY. He served several years on the staff of the New York State American Legion Boy's State Program. While serving the First Congregational Church in Saugerties, NY, he was President of the Saugerties Area Council of Churches. Mac was inducted as a lifetime member of the Saugerties Exempts Volunteer Fire Department and also served as the Chaplain for the Volunteer Fire Department. He was an active member of AARP and was a trainer on the AARP statewide training team for the State of Tennessee. His leadership and volunteer efforts have been recognized by the Fair Park Senior Center, Crossville, TN where he was honored with the Cumberland County Senior Citizen of the Year in 1999. He was a member and past president of the Lake Tansi Exchange Club, Crossville, TN. He and his wife, Ann Marie, were honored with the Book of Golden Deeds award and reception given by the Crossville and Lake Tansi Exchange Club in 2001. Reverend McFarland served on the Board of Directors of the Exchange Club Stephens Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse in Livingston, TN. He also served as Hospice Volunteer Chaplain from 1996-2000 for Hospice of Cumberland County where his wife was the Executive Director. God blessed Mac with five children, four with Barbara Ann Tobey, Falmouth, MA, Marjorie (Bill) VanErmen of Concord, NH, Larry (Sue) McFarland of Ft. Walton Beach, FL, Leanne (Mike) Schmidt of Falmouth, MA, and Wayne (Kim) McFarland of Harvard, MA, and one child with Ann Marie, a son, John (Amber) McFarland, Sr. of Goodlettsville, TN. There are fourteen surviving grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Our heartfelt thanks to all those who took such tender loving care of our loved one. These difficult times were made bearable because of your compassion. Reverend McFarland was a member of the Hermitage United Methodist Church and attended Chapel Services while at McKendree Village. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts of time or financial contributions be made to: Alive Hospice, 1718 Patterson St., Nashville, TN 37203 or the Golden Cross Fund c/o McKendree Village, 4347 Lebanon Rd., Hermitage, TN 37076. A memorial service will be held Sunday, November 2nd at 2 pm at the Chapel at McKendree. Visitation with the family will be one hour prior to the service at the Chapel. Arrangements by Sellars Funeral Home at Mt. Juliet, 2250 N. Mt. Juliet Road, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122, 615-758-5459, obituary line 615-758-8818, www.sellarsfuneralservices.com