Obituary of Rosetta Ruth McFarland

IN LOVING MEMORY OF ROSETTA R. McFARLAND Rosetta Ruth McFarland, went to be with the Lord on January 9, 2014 at the home of her daughter Pamela. Rosetta, the daughter of William (Bill) and Jeanette (Walcott) VanDeWege, was born June 25, 1929 in Long Island, Kansas. Her mother died at the beginning of her Sophomore year of high school. Later her father married Thelma Graf and she got a great stepmother and later sisters, Roxanne, Sharyn and Karyn. She went to school all 12 years and graduated from Long Island (KS) High School with the class of 1947. She continued her education at Bethany College and Fort Hays State University, graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education in 1957. She gave many private piano, organ and voice lessons and taught in the Long Island and Almena school systems. After graduation she became the Music Supervisor for the Hays elementary schools. On March 22, 1957 Rosetta and Marvin Hardy were united in marriage at The United Methodist Church in Almena. To this union was born one daughter, Pamela Joy. Following Marvin's death in an automobile accident Feb 1961, she finished the school year at Menlo, KS before moving to Norton to become a music teacher in the Norton school system where she taught 16 years starting in the elementary and finishing in the Jr and Sr High School. During this time many outstanding musicals were presented. June 1, 1966, Rosetta and Joseph McFarland were united in marriage at The First United Methodist Church in Norton where they were members for many years. Joe and Rosetta enjoyed camping and saw much of the United States while pulling their camping trailer. They enjoyed going on tours and have traveled throughout Europe, Canada and the United States. Beside her music she enjoyed her family, traveling, reading, sewing, knitting and quiltmaking. In 2008, Rosetta moved to Avon, IN to be close to Pamela and grandkids. She joined Bartlett Chapel United Methodist Church and made many friends there. Rosetta McFarland is survived by daughter Pamela McFarland Nickolaus (Dan) of Avon, IN; sisters Roxanne Cox of Long Island, KS; Karyn Gunzelman of Sylvan Grove, KS; and grandchildren Benjamin Nickolaus of Huntsville, AL and Claudia and Caroline Nickolaus of Avon, IN. She also leaves her beloved step-family, Gary (Martha) McFarland, of Edwardsville, IL; Gloria (John) Battin of Ulysses,KS; Galen (Rose) McFarland, Hays, KS; Greg McFarland, Olathe, KS; and grandchildren Jonathan, Todd, and Justin McFarland; Michael, David and Chris Battin; David McFarland; Shannan, Angela, Emilee and Matthew McFarland, and many more family members and friends. Memorials for Rosetta may be sent to the Fort Hays State University Endowment, 600 Park St., Hays, KS 67601. These will fund scholarships for music students.