Patricia McFarlane Young, 87
Tue, 12/19/2017 - 9:48am
admin
Nov. 2, 1930 —
Dec. 8, 2017
Maple Leaf - Patricia McFarlane Young, who lived an adventurous, unconventional life, guided by her generous spirit and sense of humor, died on Dec. 8, 2017 in Tacoma, Wash. She was 87.
Pat was born in Flint, Mich., on Nov. 2, 1930. She spent many summers on the Stevenson family farm in Maple Leaf, Iowa, where her mother, Leone, grew up. Over the past 30 years, Pat slowly but surely restored the century-old farmhouse during the summer, and she considered it home.
She described her father, Verne McFarlane, who also grew up in Maple Leaf, as “my gentle hero all my life,” and credited her mother with giving her the determination to deal with life’s setbacks.
She spent the last few years living in Tacoma, where she could be close to her son, Matt, and daughter, Martha, who lived on the same street. She often talked about how much she loved her daughter, Catie, who lives in North Carolina. She got to see her grandkids and great-grandkids regularly. This summer, she got to hold her newest grandchild, Larkin, when her son, Gordie, visited from San Francisco.
It’s hard for her children to imagine life without her, but she taught them that sometimes the hardest things in life can be the most meaningful, and that our memories of those we love can continue to guide us and comfort us.
Pat is survived by her daughters, Catherine and Martha (Patrick); her sons, Matthew and Gordon (Traci); and grandchildren, Claire, Grace (Michael), Hannah, Dylan and Larkin; as well as her great-grandchildren, Violet and Cash.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Verne and Leone McFarlane.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Luke M. Powers Catholic High School in Flint.