Shirley Ann McFarland

Shirley Ann (nee, Brown) McFarland was born on September 25, 1935, to Charles Thomas Brown and Hettie Jane (nee, Kunkle) Brown. She passed away on Wednesday, October 21, 2026 in West Branch, MI at the age of 91.

Shirley received our Lord as her personal savior as a teenager and immediately started helping her pastor with his TV program. All the teenagers from her church held a joint service each Sunday until she started her nursing career.

She was offered a scholarship from Conemaugh Memorial Hospital in Johnstown, PA and graduated on September 6, 1956, with her RN. Then she proceeded with her second scholarship at the University of Kansas, graduating on May 24, 1976, with a Bachelor of Arts degree with majors in Nursing and Spanish. She was then offered her third scholarship from Wayne State University and graduated on May 2, 1985, with the degree of Master of Science in Nursing. This caused her to become the first Nurse Practitioner in West Branch, Rose City, Mio, St. Helen, Fairview and Tawas in her own practice as well as with the Health Department.

During her career, she won many awards: namely in 1986 from the Society of Nursing Professional "Who's Who In American Nursing". In October 1987, Woman of the Year, and then on October 26, 1987 the 84th legislature for the State of Michigan and was offered a tribute from Governor James Blanchard and State Representative Tom Alley. In 1992, Nurse Practitioners across the state voted her "Outstanding Nurse in Advanced Nursing", and on December 6, 1997 she received the President's Award for excellence from her work environment.

On July 5, 1958, Shirley and Reverend Marion Luther "Mel" McFarland were married. They are the parents of two wonderful sons, David McFarland and Kevin (Cheryl) McFarland. There are five grandchildren, Andrea, Christopher, and Gregory who were raised in West Branch and Paige and Jeron who were raised in Florida. Mel and Shirley also parented 33 foster children through their almost 60 years of marriage before Mel died on March 28, 2018.

They served our Lord in churches in Connellsville, PA, Clarinda, IA, Lawrence, KA, West Branch, MI and then Rose City, MI. After retiring they joined SOWERS and worked 100 missionary projects in all 50 states.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Arrangements were handled by Steuernol & McLaren Funeral Home in West Branch. www.steuernolmclaren.com