Arlene A. Macfarlane

While in high school she took much pride in being in the marching band. After graduation she moved to Ann Arbor to work as a secretary at the University of Michigan. She always talked of going to see the football games, but not for football. She wanted to see the marching band at halftime! She would leave once the band was done. She later decided the Upper Peninsula was where she wanted to be and moved back home. On October 28, 1961, Arlene married Gary D. Macfarlane in Manistique. He preceded her in death on March 31, 2010. In 1964, Arlene and Gary moved to Escanaba where they raised their family.

Arlene worked as a secretary for the Soo Line Railroad for many years. She accomplished a personal goal of earning her bachelor’s degree after her working career. She stressed education to her children and served as a great example for them.

She was an avid reader and instilled a love of reading in her children. She was always reading to them on trips to Manistique to see Grandpa and Grandma. Their favorite books were the Little House series which were all read to them cover to cover. Later in life she participated as a “reading buddy” at Cameron Elementary School. Arlene loved traveling, knitting, and playing the piano. She also loved her morning walks at the mall, coffee at Hardee’s and playing cards with her friends. She was very social and had a wonderful group of friends.

Arlene was a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Church and was a very active member who enjoyed being involved. She was part of the perpetual adoration team at St. Francis Hospital and was particularly proud of her work with St. Thomas Church’s shawl ministry.

Survivors include her children, Michael Macfarlane of Gladstone, Scott Macfarlane (fiance Janet Dykens) of Schoolcraft, Mich., and Jennifer (Obadias) Marquez of Ooltewah, Tenn.; eight grandchildren, Ian and Lauren Macfarlane, Morgan, Scott, and Maeve Macfarlane, Emily (Bryan) Reyes, Eric (Calum McCroskey) Marquez and Megan Marquez; great grandchildren, Oliver, Isla, and Nicholas Reyes; sister, Karen Reese; brothers, Doug (Paulette) Demers and David (Flo) Demers; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Gary, parents, daughters-in-law Sherry and Sheila Macfarlane and brothers Lyle, Russell, and Owen Demers.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, October 24 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Crawford Funeral Home, 302 S. 13th St., Escanaba. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at noon at St. Thomas the Apostle Church. At the conclusion of the mass, a meal will be served in the church hall.

Burial will be in Fernwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Gladstone Public Library or St. Thomas Church/Shawl Ministry. A message of condolence may be directed to the family by visiting www.crawfordfuneralhomes.net.

The Crawford Funeral Homes are assisting the family.