PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Florence Evelyn (Whitman) McFarland, 94, of Pittsfield, Mass., died on Friday, August 4, 2017, at her home. 

She was the widow of her beloved husband of 61 years, Edward E. McFarland, who died on February 22, 2009. She was born the daughter of Martha Yonkers Whitman and Charles H. Whitman Sr. on June 15, 1923, in Pittsfield, Mass.

She graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1941, from the former North Adams State College summa cum laude in 1969, and from the State University of New York at Albany with an M.A. in 1972. She was a teacher at the former Broad Brook School in Williamstown, Mass., from 1969 to 1975 and was selected as an Outstanding Teacher in America in 1974 and a recipient of the Francis Grant Spruces Award for outstanding teaching in the local schools. In 1975 she was promoted to the position of School Psychologist and Administrator of Special Education.

From 1978 to 1981 Mrs. McFarland assumed the position of Supervisor of Special Education in the Pittsfield Public Schools and was the Vice President of the Association of Special Education Administrators of Western Massachusetts. She returned to the Williamstown Public Schools one year before retiring. After retirement, she worked as an Educational Consultant to the Northern Berkshire School Union, the Massachusetts Department of Education and the Williamstown Schools. 

Mrs. McFarland’s civic interests included the American Heart Association, March of Dimes, Public Television, Cub Scouts, Habitat for Humanity, Meals on Wheels and volunteer tutoring. She taught Sunday School at the White Oaks Congregational Church in Williamstown and was active in the Stephen Ministry while living in Florida and Virginia.

She leaves to cherish her loving memory to her children, Paul McFarland and his wife Cynthia of Williamstown, Mass., Marcia McFarland-Gray and her husband, Gary, of Clarksburg, Mass., and Daniel and his wife Pamela of Hampton, Va.; four treasured grandchildren, Katherine, Michael, David McFarland and Steven E. Gray; and two great granddaughters, Sarah and Atalie. 

Funeral notice: Graveside services for Flo are private and at the convenience of the family at Eastlawn Cemetery, Williamstown. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the White Oaks Church, Williamstown, or Massachusetts Children’s Hospital Boston through the Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, 74 Marshall St., North Adams, MA 01247.