Jerry Dean McFarland of Melbourne, AR passed away on Tuesday, January 4, 2022, at his home in Melbourne, AR at the age of 85.

If you asked a hundred people who Jerry Mc was, you would get a hundred different answers.  A deacon. A Christ follower.  A hunter. A phone man. A quiet man. A giver.  But to Jerry and his loved ones, his biggest role was that of a family man, husband, father, and much adored grandfather.

He was born Nov 11, 1936 at home in McGuire, Missouri to Bert and Nettie McFarland. He was the youngest of five children, Virginia, Sally, Jack, and Bill. Jerry met the love of his life, Margaret Provance, and they began courting in their young teen years. They were wed on Nov 27, 1955.

Jerry and Margaret started their family in Missouri, eventually moving to Melbourne, Arkansas in 1973.  Jerry spent most of his working years working for Century Telephone Company as a central office technician.  He retired in 1991. His retirement years were spent doing what he loved most, hunting, fishing, watching the grandkids play sports, and spending time with the family.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 66 years, Margaret McFarland, his four children, Carl McFarland, Keith McFarland, Kenneth (Sandra) McFarland, Sally (Fred) Strickland, his 9 grandchildren, Mindy (Heath) Williams, Andrew McFarland, Cody (Jessica) Moser, Chase (Carrie) Moser, Sarah Moser, Whitney (Wesley) Sullivan, Dillon McFarland, Sydney (Chance) Allen, and Somyr (Tristan) Abbott, 12 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, two sisters, and one grandson Travis McFarland.

Visitation will be held at Belview Baptist Church in Melbourne, AR on Thursday, January 6, at 11 a.m. with service to begin at 12 p.m. Burial will be private in Mt. Gilead Cemetery in Clarkton, Missouri with Heath Williams, Andrew McFarland, Cody Moser, Chase Moser, Dillon McFarland, Wesley Sullivan, Chance Allen, Cole Whiteaker, and Riley Whiteaker as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Renewal Ranch, P.O. Box 11128, Conway, AR 72034 therenewalranch.org