Obituary of John "Bud" Harvey McFarland

In Loving Memory J. H. ‘Bud’ McFarland John Harvey (Bud) McFarland was born May 10, 1931 at Hardisty, Alberta to parents Cecil and Winnifred McFarland. He lived with his parents at Battle Bend, east of Alliance, where they owned a quarter of CPR land. He was nicknamed Buddy by his mother, in reference to his father’s Irish heritage. In 1934, Cecil and Winnie purchased two quarters of land south of Forestburg along the Battle River where they raised cattle and owned horses. Growing up, Bud assumed a lot of responsibility farming and tending the cattle since his father’s WWI injury occasionally caused him to be hospitalized. One of those times he came home from school and found his mother had been knocked down by a cow and among other injuries, had a fractured leg. She was admitted to the hospital and Bud stayed home alone to do the farm work with the help of a neighbour. When growing up, to help earn income Bud would use his “stone boat” sleigh to haul water, firewood and anything else his neighbours needed. He regularly picked up the milk cans for the neighbours to haul to the creamery in Forestburg, which was hard work for a young man. Bud left home as a young teen to go to work. He worked in the underground mines at Drumheller, then building the railroad north from Halkirk to the Cordel Coal Mine. He worked for local farmers, and then moved to the Fuller farm and worked for Lou Fuller. This is where he met Joyce and they were married January 5, 1951. For a short time, Bud and Joyce lived with Joyce’s Great Grandmother and Bud worked at an underground mine near Forestburg. When Bud’s parent’s health declined the next spring, they took over their family farm. In March of 1953, they purchased and moved to their own farm south of the Battle River, where they remained and raised their nine children. They raised horses and cattle, he was always proud of his herd. Every Saturday morning was spent riding through the hills counting cattle. Bud owned a large farm but never liked to work alone, so he rented out the farm land to work at other jobs. He worked at a variety of jobs including underground mining, farm labourer, owning and operated a water-well boring machine powered by a heavy horse, and forestry jobs in the winter. He settled into the job he held for years at the Cordel Coal Mine where he remained until his retirement. He was always proud to show others the picture which he received at his retirement of him with his coal-hauler truck. Bud loved to visit; many cups of coffee and stories were shared at neighbours’ tables over the years. His favourite outings were camping, travelling around visiting relatives and attending rodeos in Alberta, which they both loved. They enjoyed attending the Ponoka Stampede yearly, sitting with the same people every year. He was involved with the Paintearth Light Horse Club and a member of the Halkirk Elks Club. After Joyce passed away, Bud remained on the farm until late summer of 2014, but with his declining health, made the decision to move off the farm. After a year at the Paintearth Lodge in Castor, he transferred to Points West Living in Stettler for two and a half years and spent his last year in Extended Care in Castor. Bud passed away peacefully at the Our Lady of the Rosary Hospital Long Term Care Facility in Castor, Alberta on Sunday, February 3, 2019 at 87 years of age. Funeral services were held at Evangelical Missionary Church on Saturday, February 9, 2019 at 2:00 PM with Pastor Brent Siemens officiating. Winston McFarland gave the Eulogy and several family members shared memories and tributes to “Bud” and many stories were told of their love for him. Musicians and singers Trish Kirby, Debbie Weeks and Heather Poettcker offered their gifts of music. Interment will take place in Castor Cemetery where he will be laid to rest with his loving wife Joyce; pallbearers were his beloved grandsons: Lance, Clint, Jason, Brett, Mitchell, Leighton, Blayne and Nicholas. Family and friends gathered in the Upper Hall for a time of fellowship and a luncheon by Ann Michelsen and staff. Memorial donations may be made to STARS or Paintearth Lodge. May 10, 1931 ~ February 3, 2019 Funeral Service Saturday, February 9, 2019 2:00 P.M. Evangelical Missionary Church Castor, Alberta Memorial Donations may be made to STARS or Paintearth Lodge.