Raymond McFarland

Ray McFarland, age 85, passed away Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at his home in Twin Falls of Lewy Body Dementia Ray was born in Twin Falls on May 18, 1934, the son of Clyde and Emily McFarland. He was raised in Murtaugh along the Snake River Canyon and enjoyed his childhood climbing up and down the canyon walls, swimming in the canal, hunting with his dog and helping his Dad on the family farm. Ray attended Murtaugh schools where he was very active in all sports in high school. He also loved rodeo, riding bulls and broncos. He graduated in 1953. Upon graduating from high school, Ray attended Rick's College at Rexburg. Ray married his high school sweetheart, Anita Syverson, in June of 1954 and they both began their married life as students at Rick's College. After their first daughter Kristi, was born, the couple returned to Murtaugh where Ray worked for Anita's father, Hubert, and began his lifelong farming career. Ray and Anita had two more children, Kelly, his only son, and Kodi, another daughter. Ray was always a hard-working young man with good work ethics and goals in mind. From the time he was a teenager, he would find ways to earn money so that he could buy his first horse or take a date out for the evening. After his marriage to Anita, he built their first home one step at a time as he could afford to and doing most of the work himself. He began to buy his own farm land as he could and truly enjoyed being a good farmer. He always prided himself on the fact that farming was a good life for his family and a great place to raise his children. From early on, Ray had a love for horses and as time went on, owned, bred, and raised quarter horses, along with raising cattle. Throughout the years, Ray began to acquire John Deere tractors and he was a "John Deere" enthusiast. In 1980, Ray began a new venture of raising Certified Peppermint roots to be sold and shipped to growers throughout the northwest. He retired from this business in 2009. Anita passed away in 1998 and after a couple of years, Ray met the second love of his life, Lynette Hall, of Twin Falls, and they married on Jan. 1, 2000. Together they bought acreage southwest of Twin Falls and built a new home, shop and barn, where he would have enough room for several of his horses. The couple enjoyed taking their 5th wheel to the mountains and trips to Arizona, and the Oregon Coast. They loved to spend time with their friends and family. Ray is survived by his loving wife, Lynette; two daughters, Kristi Pardue (Chuck) of Boise; Kodi Ekker (Perry), also of Boise; one son, Kelly (Amber of Bellevue; five stepchildren, Sheri Hall, Jody Lamkin (Michael) and Jim Hall, all of Twin Falls; Kayleen Baker (Steve), Meridian and Jeff Hall, Lewiston; two sisters; Myrna Goodman, Austin, Tx, and Georgia Okelberry, Las Vegas, Nv.; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. A family graveside service will be held at Sunset Memorial Park on Friday, July 1, 2022 at 10 a.m. Arrangements are being made by Parke’s Funeral Home and services conducted by John Martinez, Visions Hospice Chaplain. The family would like to thank their team from Visions Hospice; Adina, Carl, John, Vince, and others. Also thank you for the care from Dr. John Baker and Dr. Hammond throughout the years of enduring this disease. To view Ray's Graveside Service please go to this link: https://youtu.be/tB7h1_2KmYM