Patricia Joyce McFarland

La Grange, KY. -- Patricia (Patty) Joyce McFarland, 82, was called home to be with her Lord Jesus, on Wednesday, June 26, 2019. She was residing at Richwood Nursing and Rehab Center in La Grange, Kentucky.

Born on March 17, 1937, in Washington D.C., and forever proud of her St. Patrick's Day birthday, Patty is the firstborn daughter of Burl K. Mitchell and Gertrude Ruth Mitchell.

Raised in Washington, D.C., Patty enjoyed spending childhood summers with her sisters and cousins on the Illinois farm of her Uncle Kenneth and Aunt Edith Bjurstrom. After her marriage to Hugh (Buck) McFarland in 1957, they moved to Tucson, Arizona. Devoted to her faith, Patty raised her family to the knowledge of a loving Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ.

After many years as a stay-at-home mother, she re-entered the work force and greatly enjoyed her position as administrative assistant for a fighter pilot squadron at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson for many years, before working in the Veterans' Administration hospital system until she retired in 1998.

Through the years, Patty enjoyed traveling to visit her sisters and also her grown children and their families. The Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont, was a favorite vacation destination, especially around Christmas and New Year's, and the site of many cherished memories of cross country skiing, delicious dining and laugh-so-hard-you-cry game nights around the fireplace.

After moving to La Grange, Kentucky, in 2005, Patty attended Immaculate Conception Church and later Crestwood Baptist.

Patty was preceded in death by her parents, Burl and Gertrude Mitchell. She is survived by her three children, daughter Cynthia Diana McFarland of Williston, FL; son Hugh Austin McFarland, Jr. and daughter-in-law Paula McFarland of New Caney, TX; and son Kenneth John McFarland and daughter-in-law, Rebecca McFarland, M.D., of Louisville, KY; grandchildren Austin, Alexander, Parker, Eyob, Ethan, Meredith, Max, and Vivian Mihiret; sister and brother-in-law Judith and James Rhodes, of Arlington, VA, and sister Linda Sikes of Easley, SC.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, June 30, at 1:00 with visitation from 11:00 to 1:00 at Heady-Radcliffe Funeral in La Grange, Kentucky. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in Patty's honor to either of her former churches or to on of her favorite charities, St. Labre Indian School (www.stlabre.org).