Kevin Willard McFarland's Obituary
Kevin Willard McFarland was born to the late Ted Willard McFarland and Earla Jean McFarland, in Tacoma Washington on December 9, 1961. Kevin saw his dad, Ted as a hero. He was often found tagging along or working on projects with Ted. Kevin loved his mother, Earla dearly. He often stopped by their house with a treat for his mom and would visit after helping with something in the yard. His parents were his rock.
Kevin enjoyed participating in scouting as a youth and was a leader for many years. He was extremely proud to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. Kevin served a two-year mission in the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kevin was often heard to say that his mission was the best two years of his life. Kevin achieved a degree from Butte Community College in Parks and Recreation and Natural Resources. He worked several years for the California State Parks at Lake Oroville. He loved doing campfire programs and teaching about the area’s wildlife and natural resources.
Kevin was married and sealed to Ina Elizabeth Cunningham in 1984 in the Oakland Temple, California. Kevin and Ina had the opportunity after many years to adopt four children, Daniel Willard, Amber Jean, Shaunna Elizabeth and Sarah Ann McFarland. They were sealed together at the Oakland Temple, California. Kevin accompanied their children on school field trips, did stamp collecting for their classes and many camping and fishing trips were enjoyed. He loved sharing his love of the outdoors with his family.
Kevin held his family and friends close to his heart, He loved to play board games and was never a sore loser. Many times, he would sing from the sofa at a friend’s home after losing. He was fond of telling “dad jokes” and doing “magic tricks” at a restaurant table. No one could disappear a salt and pepper shaker like Kevin. He shared many boy scout camp songs with his family, and the car would be filled with singing and jokes on family road trips for family reunions.
Kevin worked as a cashier for Food and Liquor, Thornton’s Chevron, and Money Savor for many years. He never met a person he didn’t like. He often worked swing and graveyard shifts to be home with their children while Ina worked for the County during the day.
Kevin loved his Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ. He struggled and fought diabetes and the debilitating affects it had on his body. He spent years in wound care treatment, a hyperbaric chamber and in rehabilitation centers after losing his feet. The medical staff, long time prosthetists always laughed at Kevin’s jokes and found him to be jovial, a fighter and wanting to achieve all he could despite his health problems.
Kevin loved his grandchildren. Hanging out under a blanket fort in the living room or more often tinkering on a project he would explain what he was doing; and a grandchild would hold a flashlight or hand him a tool.
Kevin spent the last three years of his life in Assisted Living. The aides and nurses shared stories with our family of Kevin buying nail polish and having them paint his prosthetic toes. He would race staff outside asking when they were taking him on vacation or going to marry him, He was known to buy dinner for other residents or bring something from the store back from an outing. His sense of humor and generosity will forever be remembered by those who knew and loved him.
Kevin is survived by his wife, Ina and their four children, his mother, and two brothers, Kenneth and Kory McFarland. Kevin passed quietly and peacefully on his terms August 6, 2021.
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