F. Louise (Allison) McFarland

F. Louise McFarland, 93, of Newton died on Thursday, September 10, 2020, at Nelson Manor.  A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, September 17, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. The family will greet friends from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service.  Memorials to the Community Heights Alliance Church may be left at the funeral home.

Louise, the daughter of Archie and Georgia Mae (Smith) Allison, was born on September 16, 1926 in rural Monroe County, Iowa.  She grew up in the Albia area where she worked hard from a young age. When she needed glasses, she raised a pig to afford them and at the age of 14 took a job at the local meat locker to help support her family.  Louise was united in marriage to Ernest G. McFarland on September 16, 1950 in Ottumwa.  While Ernest attended Iowa State University, Louise worked as a waitress in Ames.  They later made their home in Newton, where Louise was a stay at home mom for their two children, Jimmy and Jocile, and a homemaker. When her children were older she returned to work as a nurse’s aide at Skiff Medical Center.  She enjoyed sewing and crocheting.

Louise is survived by her children, Jimmy McFarland of Newton and Jocile (Doug) Versteegh of Newton; grandchildren, Natalie (Dustin) Hedlund, Jessica Smith (Eric Bacon), Joshua Versteegh (Katelyn Stowe), and Jacob Versteegh (Kristen Owens); her great-grandchildren, Samantha Smith, Braven Bird, Zachary Versteegh, Vada Versteegh, Drew Hedlund, and Davin Hedlund; honorary great-grandchildren, Shayla Owens, Emma Bacon, Aubrey Bacon, and Drew Bacon; and her sister-in-law, Nancy McFarland of Albia.  She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ernest in 2008;  brother, Billy; and two sisters, Betty and Barbara and their husbands. She was also preceded in death by Ernest’s family including his brothers, Harry, Paul, Charles and their wives and Max and his sisters, Margaret and Darlene and their husbands. 

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