Lois McFarland

2/7/1920 – 1/13/2016

Lois McFarland, a long time resident of Mercer Island, Washington, died at the age of 95, at home with family.

Lois was born in Washington DC, but grew up in Beverly Hills, California, where she met Bart McFarland from South Dakota. They married in 1940 and had 2 daughters. In 1945 Bart & Lois moved their family to Mercer Island, WA where he began a custom home building business until he retired and passed away in 1992.  Over the years, together they built eight homes for our family and spent several summers building homes in Alaska, and one in Arizona.

Lois began painting soon after their daughters moved out and married. She was passionate about her painting, which provided opportunity for serious study with her mentor Sergei Bongart, and many wonderful painting trips. For a few years, Lois operated Factoria Studio where she conducted classes and many workshops. She also designed and manufactured a small portable Paint Box, a favorite of all who owned one.

She was diagnosed with COPD nearly 3 years ago and made a decision to give up driving. Since then she has kept up with friends and family with her computer. She LOVED her computer!

She was active and able to care for herself until a few months ago when she needed the help of the full time caregivers of Home Instead and Evergreen Hospice.

Lois outlived her husband of 52 years, her three siblings, and is survived by her two daughters Bonnie Klein and husband Robert Purdy, and Nancy and her husband David Barnhart, five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

She often said: “I’ve had a wonderful life!”