Lois McFarland

Lois was born in Watsonville, California on April 9,1931 and passed in Scottsdale, Arizona on August 5, 2025. She was raised in Clovis, California where she graduated from Fresno State University with a degree in Journalism in 1953. She was the president of Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority and served in the US Navy WAVES.

Lois spent 50 years in the world of journalism and has written for several newspapers and magazines! She also authored portions of three Scottsdale History books. She was a columnist with the Scottsdale Tribune for 21 years, and since 2001 had been working as a correspondent/ photographer for the Scottsdale Republic/Arizona Republic.

Lois was married to the love of her life, Loren Hamilton McFarland Jr., for 65 years before his passing in 2018. Loren worked for Anheuser-Busch for 31 years, moving several times and finally settled down in Scottsdale Arizona in 1979. This is where Lois settled in and became extremely involved in her beloved Scottsdale.

Lois got involved in preservation, serving on the City of Scottsdale’s Historic Preservation Commission, the Scottsdale Library board, the Scottsdale Sister Cities board, the Scottsdale Historical Society Advisory board, Scottsdale Leadership Inc.’s public relations committee, the Herb Drinkwater and Winfield Scott Memorial Sculpture fundraising committees and the Arizona Culturekeepers selection committee. Additionally, she is past president of the National League of American Pen Women, Scottsdale Branch.

She is the recipient of many awards including, winning 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.

Lois and Loren both served their church as founding members, elders, Budget and Finance chairs of Mountain View Presbyterian church.

Lois is survived by her five (5) sons and four (4) Daughters-in-Law; Craig McFarland (Nancy), Lyle McFarland, Glen McFarland (Debbie), Keith McFarland (Sharon) and Todd McFarland (Deanna), nine (9) grandchildren and seventeen (17) great grandchildren. She lived long, she lived well, she accomplished a lot! If we all could be so lucky! We Love You, Mom, Grannie, Great Grannie!!