Linda Sue McFarland

Linda Sue Horner McFarland 1945 - 2022 Hours pass into days And time slips away, But the words we speak And the things we do Touch the lives of others And live on forever. It may seem strange to most people that I have chosen to write my own obituary, but if it is to have the meaning I wish it to, I must do it myself. I was born on March 19, 1945, the first and only child of Paul "Jack" and Hazel Andre Horner. My dad was in a military hospital in England at the time and learned of my birth and my mother's death by telegram several days later. My mother was a registered nurse and was attended by her best friend, Emma Alice "Scottie" Mason, during her labor and delivery. My wonderful aunt and uncle, Howard and Myrtle "Honcie" Chamberlin took me home with them from the hospital and kept me for nine months; then my father came and took me back to Locust Grove. During that first year, I stayed with "Ma" Reed and Bill and Polly Mason. Then sometime around my first birthday, I came to live with Newt and Scottie Mason and gained a big brother, David Lee Mason. I was so blessed to become "their" child (and they always made me feel like "theirs") and live with them until I left to get married. I always kept a special connection to Howard, Honcie and Janet and spent every summer with them. I was such a fortunate child to have had so many loving, caring, people in my life. I first met Larry Charles McFarland when he came to Franklin School in fourth grade. We were buddies off and on through grade school; then began dating in high school. We married in June of 1963 after we both graduated from good old Franklin High School and remained soul mates for the rest of our lives. My mother-in-law, Dorothy, was a role model for me and was wonderful to me all the years we had together. With the help of Mom and Newt, and Larry's support, I was able to earn a bachelor's and a master's degree from Ohio University. I worked as an elementary teacher, a high school English teacher, drama coach, yearbook advisor, and high school guidance counselor over the next 30 years. I retired (and happily so) in 1996. Now to the most important part of my life - that of Mother. I was most graciously blessed to have two wonderful sons, Steven Joe and Christopher Alan. From the moment I knew I was to become a mother, my sons were my priorities. I loved them more than life itself and considered them both my greatest accomplishments in life. They gave my life joy and meaning and filled me with such pride. In 1984, I thought my life would end. Chris was killed in a car accident. This was not the order that life was supposed to follow; parents aren't supposed to bury their children. Somehow, Larry, Steve and I survived by holding on to each other. I'm sure we tried to hold Steve too close in the years to come, but the fear of losing him overrode our instinct to let him become independent. But independent he did become-he graduated from The Ohio State University with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. How proud we were at his college graduation! In 1987, he went to work at GE Proving Grounds only a few miles from home. How lucky for us. Before he finished college, Steve met Susan Rae Hedrick and began dating her. They were married in 1989 and have since filled our lives with the great joy of being grandparents to Tyler, Katie, Annie, Sarah, and Haisley. Is there any greater love than that of being grandparents? They again gave our lives new meaning. We loved watching them learn, grow, and succeed. It has been great watching our "son" become a "dad." He and Susie have been such wonderful parents. They have taught, guided, and supported all their children to help them become their best selves. There have been so many people that helped shape my life into what it was-most good influences, a few not so good. I had so many aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews-Masons, Scotts, Andres, Horners-that gave me love and support. Then came many wonderful teachers-Mrs. Cole, Mrs. Roderick, Mrs. Unger, Miss Masters-who fostered a love for learning and a respect for life. Over the years, I was so blessed to have so many "best" friends-Marguerite, Mary, Janet, Sandy, Katbird-when some people never know true friendship. I hope that I was the daughter, wife, mother, niece, cousin, aunt, student, and friend to them that they were to me. I pray that I brought joy and love into their lives as they did mine. That's what life is all about. Most of my adult life, I searched for that meaning of life. I struggled with feelings of unworthiness and a fear that I was not fulfilling the purpose that God had for me. I worried that I did not do enough, care enough, give enough, help others enough; I always came up short in my own evaluation of myself. But maybe all those insecurities spurred me to reach out to others and see that by giving, you receive; by loving, you are loved; by helping others, you receive so many blessings. Family, friends, and faith have sustained me through all the good times and the difficult times. Hopefully, I have left this world a little better by being here. That is my greatest desire. If I leave any legacy for my family-my cherished grandchildren-it would be to live life fully, to serve others while taking good care of yourself in the process; to love and forgive generously; to have faith in God to guide and protect you; to laugh at life instead of taking it too seriously (which I always did); and most of all, to put fear in its place and don't let it limit you. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Now then, go somewhere and get something good to eat and reminisce about all the good times we've had together. Laugh and fellowship together. Treasure each other. Don't let any regrets mar the joy that is your life. I've loved you all with all my heart and to the depths of my soul. Thank you for journeying through this life with me. I'm so grateful to you all. Goodbye and God Bless! Life is a gift we have and cannot keep. Something found, lived, and lost in sleep. Just a ripple in the tide of time. Just a word in the universal rhyme. Life is the dew on a rose. It belongs to man while he knows. But even as sunset follows dawn. So with a touch and it is gone. The family requests that memorial donations be made to the Peebles United Methodist Church, 1370 Measley Ridge Road, Peebles, Ohio 45660.

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Linda Sue McFarland

March 19, 1945 - May 2, 2022