Rheba Mcfarland

Rheba Gabbard McFarland, 89, of Connersville, died Saturday evening, March 19, 2016, at Caroleton Manor Nursing Home, Connersville. A Foxtown, Kentucky native, Rheba was the last surviving child of twelve children born July 18, 1926 to Frank and Catherine Maupin Gabbard. On January 22, 1940, she was married in Jackson County, Kentucky to Marshall McFarland who died August 26, 1987. Rheba was a member of the Park Road Christian Center and had been employed as the head housekeeper at the former Holiday Inn in Connersville. She liked to be outside mowing grass and tending her flower gardens. She also liked puzzles and word search games. Most of all, Rheba loved being a wife, mother and grandmother. Rheba is survived by her children: Carl McFarland of Falmouth, Edith James and Rick McFarland, both of Connersville; her grandchildren: Bobby McFarland, Mary Horning, Daniel McFarlan, Kim E. McFarland, Gail Steele, Lori Venable, Eddie James, Fred James, Jenni Roberts and Kim Kerr; twenty great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren; her daughter-in-law: Marcia McFarland of Connersville; many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents and husband, Rheba is preceded in death by her children: Tolbie and Ralph McFarland, Judy Musselman; her grandchildren: Jackey Ray McFarland, Lisa and Lyle McFarland; a daughter-in-law: Norma Jean McFarland; a son-in-law: Carroll “Ed” James; five brothers and six sisters. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday at Showalter Blackwell Long Funeral Home, Myers Chapel, Connersville, with Rev. Lester Rose officiating. Interment will follow in Dale Cemetery. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 11 a.m. Thursday until the time of service where memorial contributions may be made to the Arthritis Foundation. For additional information and to send condolences or memories, go to www.ShowalterBlackwellLong.com.