In Memory Of
Sharon Lois Mcfarland
1943
2023
Sharon Lois Mcfarland
March 25, 1943 — December 8, 2023
Sharon Lois McFarland, age 80, of St. Charles, Missouri passed away on Friday, December 8, 2023 in Bridgeton, Missouri. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri on March 25, 1943 to Franklin and Mildred McFarland (nee Bass).
Sharon began teaching third grade in Berkeley School district in 1965 at Frostfield School and continued until the court-ordered merger of Berkeley, Kinloch and Ferguson-Florissant School Districts. At that time, she went to Lee Hamilton School where she taught 3rd through 6th grades. In 1985, Sharon went to Halls Ferry School to teach 1st grade, where she remained until 2004, when she retired after 39 years in public education. Sharon's concern with ensuring good math skills in her young students, led her and a colleague, to promote and develop workshops in helping teachers learn new techniques in teaching math.
After retiring, Sharon continued her love of teaching by becoming a volunteer with OASIS, an intergenerational tutoring program that promotes healthy aging through lifelong learning, an active lifestyle and volunteer engagement. More recently, Sharon's love of collecting children's books throughout her life, resulted in her donation of well over three hundred children's books to a program within the St. Louis Public School District that makes them available to children living in foster homes and homeless shelters.
In addition to teaching, Sharon was a lifetime member in the Ferguson-Florissant NEA, the Missouri NEA and the National NEA, all professional teachers' organizations. Sharon also loved going to the Fox Theatre with several of her closest friends, more affectionately known as "The Foxy Ladies", going out to dinner, movies and Cardinal games with friends and family, listening to live music, antique shopping, reading and Sudoku games. She enjoyed traveling to new and foreign places and always brought back gifts to share with loved ones. She was an active member of Harmony United Methodist Church in Charlack, Missouri, and Harmony's United Women in Faith.
Sharon was always up for the next adventure. She loved spending time with her siblings, nieces, nephews, and her many friends.
She made a difference to hundreds of children over the years and her love of learning and teaching never ended. She was an example of a life, well lived in service to others, and she will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Sharon is survived by her Siblings, Gary Claude (Linda) McFarland, Kevin (Rich Fischer) McFarland, Kathy (Dan) McIntyre;Two Sister-In-Laws, Joanne McFarland, Dianna McFarland; many loving nieces, nephews, and a host of other family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her Father, Franklin Claude McFarland; Mother, Mildred Lucille McFarland; Two Brothers, Dale McFarland, Ronald McFarland.
In lieu of flowers, Sharon's family asks that you consider a donation to:
The Ferguson-Florissant Scholarship Fund
Harmony United Methodist Church, 2730 Walton Road, St. Louis, MO 63114
or a charity of your choice in her honor.
A Celebration of Life will be on Saturday, December 30, 2023, visitation from 9:30 am until 10:30 am with a service at 10:30 am at Harmony United Methodist Church located at 2730 Walton Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114.
To share a memory of Sharon or leave a special message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.
Sharon began teaching third grade in Berkeley School district in 1965 at Frostfield School and continued until the court-ordered merger of Berkeley, Kinloch and Ferguson-Florissant School Districts. At that time, she went to Lee Hamilton School where she taught 3rd through 6th grades. In 1985, Sharon went to Halls Ferry School to teach 1st grade, where she remained until 2004, when she retired after 39 years in public education. Sharon's concern with ensuring good math skills in her young students, led her and a colleague, to promote and develop workshops in helping teachers learn new techniques in teaching math.
After retiring, Sharon continued her love of teaching by becoming a volunteer with OASIS, an intergenerational tutoring program that promotes healthy aging through lifelong learning, an active lifestyle and volunteer engagement. More recently, Sharon's love of collecting children's books throughout her life, resulted in her donation of well over three hundred children's books to a program within the St. Louis Public School District that makes them available to children living in foster homes and homeless shelters.
In addition to teaching, Sharon was a lifetime member in the Ferguson-Florissant NEA, the Missouri NEA and the National NEA, all professional teachers' organizations. Sharon also loved going to the Fox Theatre with several of her closest friends, more affectionately known as "The Foxy Ladies", going out to dinner, movies and Cardinal games with friends and family, listening to live music, antique shopping, reading and Sudoku games. She enjoyed traveling to new and foreign places and always brought back gifts to share with loved ones. She was an active member of Harmony United Methodist Church in Charlack, Missouri, and Harmony's United Women in Faith.
Sharon was always up for the next adventure. She loved spending time with her siblings, nieces, nephews, and her many friends.
She made a difference to hundreds of children over the years and her love of learning and teaching never ended. She was an example of a life, well lived in service to others, and she will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Sharon is survived by her Siblings, Gary Claude (Linda) McFarland, Kevin (Rich Fischer) McFarland, Kathy (Dan) McIntyre;Two Sister-In-Laws, Joanne McFarland, Dianna McFarland; many loving nieces, nephews, and a host of other family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her Father, Franklin Claude McFarland; Mother, Mildred Lucille McFarland; Two Brothers, Dale McFarland, Ronald McFarland.
In lieu of flowers, Sharon's family asks that you consider a donation to:
The Ferguson-Florissant Scholarship Fund
Harmony United Methodist Church, 2730 Walton Road, St. Louis, MO 63114
or a charity of your choice in her honor.
A Celebration of Life will be on Saturday, December 30, 2023, visitation from 9:30 am until 10:30 am with a service at 10:30 am at Harmony United Methodist Church located at 2730 Walton Rd, St. Louis, MO 63114.
To share a memory of Sharon or leave a special message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Sharon Lois Mcfarland, please visit our flower store.
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