Judith Gene McFarland

August 1, 1947 - February 27, 2021 Vacaville, CA Judy McFarland passed away at her home, at the age of 73, on February 21, 2021 after a long battle with cancer. Born in San Francisco to Ethridge Eugene “Tiny” Hardesty and Elizabeth “Liz” Johnston, she was raised in southern California before moving back to the Bay area in 1970 and Vacaville in 1979. She met her husband, Dennis, while they were both going to Fullerton Junior College and were married in 1967. After her daughter started kindergarten, she went back to school to finish her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development. She went on to become the childcare director for the YMCA after school program at Padan Elementary and was the director for the first childcare program developed for CMF employees on CMF grounds. Later, she began working for Solano County in Child Support Services and then became a probation officer until she retired. Judy loved life and the people in it and so chose professions where she felt she could help people. She also volunteered for causes that she thought supported her community the most. She was involved in literacy projects in the Bay Area, donated blood most of her life and volunteered for the Vacaville Police Department. One of the achievements that she found most fulfilling was becoming a master gardener. She already loved gardening and was the person to whom you would bring your sick plant but now she could help even more. Master Gardeners volunteer their time to help with projects like the Children’s Memorial Garden on Beck Avenue in Fairfield and having an information booth at farmer’s markets to help local gardeners. She had fond memories of growing up in the mountains near Pine Valley and still had several lifelong friends from high school. She loved riding horses and exploring the acres of land surrounding them. Judy and Dennis were happiest camping, hiking and fishing when they were younger and traveling, cruising and sightseeing when they were older. Judy was preceded in death by her husband of 38 years, Dennis; her parents, Tiny and Liz; her sisters, Sheila White and Stephany Orendorff; and her brother-in-law, Terry McFarland. She is survived by her daughter, Erica McFarland; her sister, Penelope Webb; her sister-in-law, Susie Runer (Rich) and several nieces and nephews. For those who wish to remember Judy, the family asks a donation to be made to the America Cancer Society. https://www.cancer.org/involved/donate/memorial-giving.html