CAMDEN — Gale McFarland
Dr. Gale Allen McFarland, 61, of Camden, died on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014, at the Ouachita County Medical Center in Camden.
He was the only child of Auborn Jerome McFarland Jr. and Thelma Estelle Wagnon McFarland, both of Banks. Gale was born on Dec. 18, 1953, in Warren, but lived with his parents on their farm just east of Banks. Primary education began at the Banks Elementary School in 1960. In August of 1965, the family moved to Crossett because of job opportunities for A.J., who was a structural iron worker - local union 710, in Monroe, La. Estelle was a devoted wife and homemaker.
Gale attended school in Crossett, graduating in May, 1972. After that, the family moved back to their farm in Banks. Gale attended the University of Arkansas at Monticello finishing with a bachelor of science degree in wildlife management in May of 1976.
Graduate School at Louisiana Tech University followed with Gale earning a master of science degree in botany in July of 1979. He put environmental science behind him when he was accepted to medical school at UAMS in Little Rock for the school year beginning in 1979. In May of 1983, with his M.D. degree in hand, Dr. McFarland was off to New Orleans, La., to pursue a residency with the LSU general surgery department.
After two years, Gale changed his career aspirations to urology and completed three years of residency with the LSU - Ochsner Urology program. By this time, he was married to Janice Marie Jackson and had three sons: Steven Ross, Justin Lehman, and James Wesley McFarland. The young family relocated to Camden in July of 1983 where, Dr. McFarland opened the Camden Urology Clinic. Two more sons were born to Jan and Gale Allen: Travis Allen and Auburn Jackson McFarland. All five boys finished school at Camden Fairview. Steven was deployed with the Arkansas Army National Guard to Iraq in 2004, and Justin was deployed with the U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division to Afghanistan from 2005 - 2006; both young men received honorable discharges from their units. Gale and Jan divorced in 1996.
Gale married Wendy Gayle Andrews on May 24, 1997. Not only has Wendy been Gale's wife, but she has been his urologic nurse at the clinic, earning her certification as a urologic RN (CURN) in the early 2000's.
The practice provided little time for vacations, but the family still maintains the farm in Banks.
Gale stated that his vacation was going to work on the farm.
Gale played piano and Hammond organ, first training in classical and religious music, but later switching to rock and country. For nine years, he was the pianist for Banks Presbyterian Church.
He and his family are members of Presbyterian Church in Camden. Gale played in several bands in the Warren and Camden areas. He retired from "gigging" in 1996, then played in rare jam sessions with his musician friends.
Other hobbies have been jogging, bicycling, and always trying to lead a healthy lifestyle to "practice what he preaches” to his patients at his urology clinic.
Dr. McFarland has been active as a 5th District Trustee with the Arkansas Medical Society, and is a member of the Arkansas Urologic Society and the American Urological Association.
He is preceded in death by both parents; and his second son, Justin.
Gale is survived by his wife, Wendy; and sons, Steven, Wesley, Travis, and Jackson.
His final wishes would be for the original farm in Banks to remain intact for many more years as a productive part of the family, and to thank all his patients and colleagues for their confidence in his clinical and surgical abilities.
He would also like to thank his family and friends for all their support during his final months.
Frazer's Funeral Home in Warren is in charge of the arrangements.
Funeral services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home in Warren. Burial will be at McFarland Cemetery in Banks.
Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.
Memorials preferred to the McFarland Cemetery Perpetual Care c/o Ginger Ricks, to First Presbyterian Church in Camden, or to the Ouachita County Medical Center, P.O. Box 797, Camden, AR 71711.
An online guest register is available at www.frazerfuneralhome.com.