Nancy McFarland

Six months have passed since the transition of Nancy Chichester McFarland sometime in the early morning hours of April 23 this year. Nancy had a full life, full of love and purpose. She sought and found joy in life and by example, knowingly or unknowingly, led others in that quest. Her ready laugh was infectious. Her unexpected and sudden quiet passage occurred on her own terms, in her own home and in her own bed.

Nancy was born on September 20, 1943, in Wichita, Kansas to Glessie and Archie Chichester. She attended Wichita public schools graduating from Southwest High in 1961. Her first year in college was spent at Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee where she made many friendships. Her father’s heart attack in the summer of 1962 however, necessitated a transfer to Wichita State University where she graduated in the summer of1965.

During her time at W.S.U. she supplemented the family income working after school in various jobs, most notably at one of Wichita’s major hospitals where in her senior year she learned coding of medical records. After leaving W.S.U. she moved to Fort Worth in August 1965 to pursue postgraduate studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. On the first day of her move to Fort Worth she applied for a job in the medical records department at John Peter Smith hospital. During the interview she mentioned that she knew how to code and was hired that very day, 30 hours a week in the evening shift, joining a group of three other individuals, also seminary students. Then in September 1965 she met Warren McFarland, an intern at J.P.S. and the two were wed in October 1966, after moving to Dallas for residency training where Nancy subsequently spent a year with the American Cancer Society before obtaining a caseworker position in the social service department at Parkland Memorial Hospital. At the start of 1970 the couple moved to Houston for fellowship training at M.D. Anderson Hospital and daughter Holly was born on June 8 that year. A two-year stint on the staff of the University of Texas at Houston medical school was followed by a move in 1973 to private practice in Tarrant County and their residence in Arlington where they lived for 51 years. Further expansion of the family occurred on April 9, 1975, with the birth of Bobby. Nancy was a great mom to her children, leading in their upbringing and maturation. She was always available for family in so many ways.

But Nancy wasn’t done. In 1994 she went back to school, obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree from the UT Southwestern School of Allied Health in May 1996. Then in 1997 Nancy joined Dallas CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates) where she spent the next 16 years as a casework supervisor and where she made a number of enduring friendships. Friendships from her earliest days had always been very important to her.

Nancy was the heart and soul of our family, the center of our endeavors, the wise ballast that kept us on course. She is sorely missed.

She is survived by: Husband Warren McFarland; Daughter Holly McFarland and son-in- law Todd Kerstetter; Son Bobby McFarland and daughter-in-law Laylah McFarland; Granddaughters Nora and Leah Kerstetter; Grandsons Marshall, Ethan, and Nathan McFarland, and Brother Paul Chichester and his family

The staff at Moore Funeral Home encourages family and friends to express their fond memories, expressions of sympathy and additional condolences to the family of Nancy McFarland, by visiting www.moore-funeralhome.com.

In addition, if you or someone you know wish to send a floral condolence to the McFarland family in honor of the late Nancy McFarland, you may choose to do so by calling In Bloom Flowers and Gifts at (972)-256-6637