Marie Townsend McFarland of Spanish Fort died Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2010.
She was born in Mobile June 15, 1923, the only daughter of Alexis and Gertrude Townsend. She attended Murphy High School where she was a regular performer in musical presentations and she graduated from Brenau College, Gainesville, Ga., with a Bachelor of Music degree.
As a vocal artist she continued her studies at the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester and sang two seasons with the Metropolitan Opera in New Yorkbefore returning to Mobile where she met and married D. H. McFarland on June 1, 1945.
They made their home in Birmingham for many years where she continued her musical accomplishments as a pianist, vocalist and teacher while raising her family. She was very active in the Birmingham Music Club and performed regularly with the Birmingham Symphony Chorus, was active in theater arts and served faithfully in her church choirs for many years.
Her husband’s career moved them to Pennsylvania and Texas. In 1990 she and her husband retired to Montrose and eventually spent the last seven years together with their daughter in Spanish Fort.
She was preceded in death by her husband D.H. earlier in the year.
Survivors include three children, Donald H. (Claudia) McFarland of Wilmington, Del., thje Rev. Arnold T. (Dale) McFarland of Johnstown, Pa., and Priscilla McFarland (Michael) Cure of Spanish Fort; eight grandchildren, two step-grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18 at Montrose Cemetery.
The family requests memorial donations be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 28788 N. Main St., Daphne, AL 36526.
Arrangements are by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc., Daphne.
