Carmen McFarland

Carmen McFarland, at the age of 105, passed away peacefully in her sleep on 5/18/2018 at home, in her “casita“ of 14 years, in Pahrump, NV. She was born Maria Carmen Farfan on February 13, 1913, in Morelia, Michocan, Mexico to Pablo and Romana Farfan. She traveled back and forth to the USA with her parents and siblings looking for work. As a young girl she was working in Needles, CA as a Harvey Girl for the Harvey hotels. There she met and fell in love with her first husband, Manuel Torres and they were married in September of 1936. They had one son Alfred Torres and one daughter Armida Torres Derkas. They eventually moved to Los Angles where her husband’s family lived. Her husband Manuel worked for the railroad so they moved several times living in Tracy, CA; Roseville, CA; and finally settling in Sacramento, CA. She became a citizen in 1951. Carmen met and married her second husband Ollie (Mac) McFarland in October of 1966. He was a big rig truck drive and they also traveled to many areas including Alaska while he worked on the pipeline. They eventually settled in northern Nevada retiring and living in Carson City, Silver Springs, and Dayton. In 2004 her daughter and son-in-law built a house in Pahrump with a casita for her. She became active with the DAV Ladies Auxiliary, the Daughters of Mary at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church and occasionally went to the Senior Center for lunch and visits with friends. She enjoyed reading, watering her plants, working out in the yard and feeding her rabbits, turtle doves, quail and whatever else came along. When people asked her why she thinks she has lived such a long life she tells them “I never smoked, I always worked hard, stayed active, and did everything in moderation which includes, eating, drinking and even “sex”. She always enjoyed a small glass of Merlot with her lunch. And of course, she always accepted whatever God had in store for her, good or bad, her faith never wavered. She was preceded in death by her first and second husband; her son Alfred (Sonny) Torres and her grandson Eric A. Derkas. She is survived by her daughter Armida Derkas (Buddy); step-son Ted Calandra (Carol); grandson Joe Derkas (Rocio); granddaughter Judi Goddard (Rick); granddaughter Corina Buxton (Donald); 4 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren. She is loved by many family and friends and has been a role model and inspiration to all who meet her. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in her name to Nathan Adelson Hospice of Pahrump, NV or Daughters of Mary, Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, Pahrump, NV.