Obituaries

Gale Allen McFarland

Photo of Gale Allen McFarland
Gale Allen McFarland, age 61, of Camden, Ark., died Thursday December 18, 2014 at Ouachita County Medical Center in Camden, Ark. He was the only child of Auborn Jerome McFarland Jr. and Thelma Estelle Wagnon McFarland, both of Banks, Ark. Gale was born December 18, 1953 in Warren, Ark. but lived with his parents on their farm just east of Banks. Primary education began at the Banks Elementary School in 1960. In August, 1965, the family moved to Crossett, Ark., because of job opportunities for A.J. whom was a structural iron worker (local union 710, Monroe, La.). Estelle was a devoted wife and homemaker. Gale attended school in Crossett, graduating in May, 1972. After that the family moved back to their farm in Banks. Gale attended the University of Arkansas at Monticello finishing with a BS in Wildlife Management, in May, 1976. Graduate School at Louisiana Tech University followed with Gale earning a Master of Science degree in Botany, July, 1979. He put environmental science behind him when he was accepted to medical school at UAMS in Little Rock, Ark. for the school year beginning in 1979. In May, 1983 with his M.D. degree in hand, Dr. McFarland was off to New Orleans, La. to pursue a residency with the LSU general surgery department. After two years, Gale changed his career aspirations to urology and completed 3 years of residency with the LSU - Ochsner Urology program. By this time he was married to Janice Marie Jackson and had three sons; Steven Ross, Justin Lehman, and James Wesley McFarland. The young family relocated to Camden, Ark. in July, 1983 where Dr. McFarland opened the Camden Urology Clinic. Two more sons were born to Jan and Gale Allen; Travis Allen and Auburn Jackson McFarland. All five boys finished school at Camden Fairview. Steven was deployed with the Arkansas Army National Guard to Iraq in 2004 and Justin was deployed with the U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division to Afghanistan from 2005 - 2006; both young men received an honorable discharges from their units. Gale and Jan divorced in 1996. Gale married Wendy Gayle Andrews, 5/24/1997. Not only has Wendy been Gale's wife but she has been his urologic nurse at the clinic, earning her certification as a urologic RN (CURN) in the early 2000's. The practice provided little time for vacations, but the family still maintains the farm in Banks. Gale states his vacation is going to work on the farm. Gale played piano and Hammond organ, first training in classical and religious music, but later switching to rock and country. For nine years he was the pianist for the Banks Presbyterian Church: and he and his family are presently members of the Camden, Ark. First Presbyterian Church. Gale played in several bands in the Warren and Camden areas, He retired from "gigging" in 1996, now playing in rare jam sessions with his musician friends. Other hobbies have been jogging, bicycling, and always trying to lead a healthy lifestyle to "practice what he preaches"to his patients at his urology clinic. Dr. McFarland has been active as a 5th District Trustee with the Arkansas Medical Society, and is a member of the Arkansas Urologic Society and the American Urological Association. Gale is survived by his wife Wendy, Steven, Wesley, Travis, and Jackson. He is preceded in death by both parents and his second son Justin. His final wishes would be for the original farm in Banks to remain intact for many more years as a productive part of the family and to thank all his patients and colleagues for their confidence in his clinical and surgical abilities. He would also like to thank his family and friends for all their support during his final months. Funeral services are 3:30 p.m. Sunday December 21, at Frazer's Funeral Home in Warren, Ark. Burial will be in McFarland Cemetery at Banks, Ark. by Frazer's. Visitation 6-8 p.m. Saturday, December 20, at Frazer's. Memorials preferred to the McFarland Cemetery Perpetual Care - Ginger Ricks or to the Camden, AR First Presbyterian Church/Ouachita County Medical Center, P.O. Box 797, Camden, Ark. 71711. Online guest register www.frazerfuneralhome.com.

Published December 20, 2014

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