Arthur William McFARLAND

MCFARLAND, QUASDORF, SYTH, COULTER, OSTERMANN, ROBERTS, SLOVER, LAKE, VORIS, BOATRIGHT, MACKNER, DICKENS, STUARD

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:45

December 3, 1924 ---- March 3, 2016

Arthur "Art" William McFarland completed his journey on earth March 3rd, 2016 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, Washington while surrounded by his children. Born in Dows, Iowa, December 3rd, 1924 to Roy Thomas McFarland and Maggie Dina (Quasdorf) McFarland, he was the 6th of 10 children. After short stints living in Iraan, Texas and Glendive, Montana his family settled in the Kittitas Valley in 1931. Art graduated from Kittitas High School in 1942, participating in Future Farmers of America and doing well in arithmetic.

At the age of 17, his mother signed for him so that he could enlist in the U.S. Navy. As all of his older brothers had already been drafted, he wasn't about to sit at home waiting for everyone to return. He served from 1942-1945 during WWII in the Pacific as a Gunner's Mate First Class (T) on the USS Salamaua. While in service, he also took up and excelled at boxing. After the war, Art returned to the Kittitas Valley, bought a truck & trailer, and started the first hay hauling business out of Ellensburg with his brother Albert. He also worked for Herrett trucking of Sunnyside, WA for many years before starting his own business, Transport Brokers in 1968. Although he sold the business in 2003, he continued to show up at the office regularly as somewhat of a consultant/broker, for both their freight and logging trucks, up until just a few months before his passing.

He loved hunting, fishing, watching wildlife, playing blackjack and the "one armed bandits", seafood buffets, a good T-bone steak with Black Velvet on the rocks, and especially enjoyed sharing these things with good friends and family.

Art is survived by six children Mary (Don) Syth of Brewster, Marcia (Troy) Coulter of Redding, CA, Stacey McFarland (John Ostermann) of Seattle, Sherri McFarland of Spokane, Jayme (Marty) Roberts of Puyallup, and Jim (Robert Slover) Lake of San Bernardino, CA. He is survived by sisters, Leta Voris of Wenatchee and Gloria Boatright of Covington, 9 grandchildren, many great grandchildren, and even some great great grandchildren. He is also survived by his former companion Jane Mackner Dickens. Art is predeceased by his parents, his son, Thomas William McFarland, his siblings Albert, Leroy, Harley, Emery, Lawrence, Louise (Stuard) and Levi McFarland, and his grandson Keith Coulter.

A Celebration of Life gathering will be held Saturday, March 12th at 1PM at McIntosh Ranch, 7820 Highway 97, Ellensburg.

Daily Record -- Ellensburg, Washington
March 11, 2016