Our beloved Illa Mai McFarlin, known to most as “Mai,” passed Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, leaving a large hole in our lives.
As an Army wife, she lived in many locations but called Vine Grove her home for more than 60 years. Mai retired from the Fort Knox Community School District in 1989, where she worked in many capacities including as food services director. In 1966, she was named the Business and Professional Women’s Woman of the Year for her community work. For five summers in the late ’60s and ’70s, she prepared wonderful meals for grateful archaeologists at the University of Arizona Archaeological Field School excavating at Grasshopper, Arizona. She was a member of Valley View Baptist Church and remained active as long as she could attend. Mai was known for her excellent cooking, ranging from basic Tennessee country food to cakes that helped raise money for local charities.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Nelve P. “Mac” McFarlin II; her parents, Charles Freeman Deal and Lena May Chester Deal; her brothers, Leo and Edward; and her sisters, Elizabeth “Libby” Bishop and Dorothy Hood.
She is survived by her two children, Shela McFarlin (David Redmond) and Nelve P. McFarlin III (Linda Ray); two granddaughters, Jessica Mai McFarlin (Jason Hall) and Allison Ray Scherer (Shaun Scherer); and two great grandchildren, Ella Ray Scherer and Clayton Dean Scherer. Over the years, she was “mom” to many pets and leaves behind cats, Otis and Blue.
Mai also is survived by her brother, Charles H. Deal (Brenda); her sister-in-law Eveyln Nichols; brother-in-law Melvin Tidwell; and many nieces and nephews and their children.
Visitation will be from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM, Thursday, September 23, 2021 and from 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM, Friday, September 24, 2021 at Chism Family Funeral Home, Vine Grove, KY.
Funeral services for Mrs. McFarlin will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, September 24, 2021 at the chapel of Chism Family Funeral Home, Vine Grove, KY with Dr. Shawn Edwards officiating.
A graveside service will be held at 1:30 PM, Thursday, October 7, 2021 at the Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central, Radcliff, KY.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Hosparus Health of Central Kentucky, St. Jude’s Children Hospital or to your own favorite charity in her name.
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