Lois McFarland, a journalist for 50 years who served Scottsdale on a variety of boards and commissions as well as in extensive historical and feature writings, died on Aug. 5. She was 94.
A native Californian who moved to McCormick Ranch with her late husband of 65 years, Loren, in 1979, Mrs. McFarland wrote for numerous publications, including the old Scottsdale Progress for 21 years.
She graduated from Fresno State University with a degree in journalism in 1953 and was the president of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. She also served in the US Navy WAVES.
Besides writing about people, places and organizations in Scottsdale, Mrs. McFarland also authored portions of three Scottsdale history books. She also published “Skirting Traditions: Arizona Women Writers and Journalists 1912-2012.”
But Mrs. McFarland didn’t settle for being a passive observer of Scottsdale and the world around her.
She served on the Scottsdale Historic Preservation Commission, the Scottsdale Library Board, the Scottsdale Sister Cities Board, the Scottsdale Historical Society Advisory Board, Scottsdale Leadership public relations committee, the Herb Drinkwater and Winfield Scott Memorial Sculpture fundraising committees and the Arizona Culturekeepers selection committee.
Additionally, she is a past president of the National League of American Pen Women, Scottsdale Branch.
Mrs. McFarland’s stories and columns earned many awards – as did her civic involvement.
A member of the Arizona Press Women, she was honored with the Arizona Press Club’s Distinguished Service Award, the Governor’s Council on Aging Media Awards in 1990 and 1991, named Scottsdale Woman of the Year in 2000 and inducted into the Scottsdale History Hall of Fame in 2002.
Mrs. McFarland and her husband were among the early residents of the Estados de la Mancha subdivision in Phase 2 of McCormick Ranch, living there for over 35 years until they moved into the retirement community of Westminster Village.
She had put together an extensive historical timeline of McCormick Ranch, telling the Scottsdale Progress in 2022, “If the Ranch were incorporated, it could be considered Arizona’s 14th largest city.”
Both she and Loren also were active in Mountain View Presbyterian Church, where they served as founding members, elders and budget and finance chairs. Her husband preceded her in death in 2018.
Mrs. McFarland is survived by her five sons and four four daughters-in-law: Craig McFarland (Nancy), Lyle McFarland, Glen McFarland (Debbie), Keith McFarland (Sharon) and Todd McFarland (Deanna). She also is survived by nine grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Sept. 13 at Mountain View Presbyterian, 8050 E. Mountain View Road, Scottsdale, followed by a graveside service at 23:30 p.m. at Paradise Memorial Gardens, 9300 E. Shea Blvd.