BAR HARBOR – Chauncey A. McFarland Jr., 89, died Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011, surrounded by his family at Sonogee Estates. He was born May 9, 1921, in Salisbury Cove, the son of Chauncey A. and Mae (Dunton) McFarland.
Chauncey graduated from a one-room schoolhouse in Salisbury Cove in 1934 and graduated from Bar Harbor High School in 1938. After serving in the U.S. Army in the European Theater, he graduated from the New England Institute of Anatomy and Embalming. He was a parts manager at Bar Harbor Motor Co. and worked at H.A. Brown Furniture Co. for five years while operating McFarland Funeral Home, Bar Harbor, which he opened in 1952. Chauncey provided funeral services to his community for more than 28 years. He also owned Bar Harbor Auto Repair and a small construction firm in Bar Harbor. Chauncey was a charter member and president of Bar Harbor Little League. He was a member of Bayview Grange for 32 years, a former member of Odd Fellows, a trustee of the building committee, a member of George Edwin Kirk Post, American Legion, and was past commander and treasurer for 17 years. Chauncey was a former member of MDI Lions Club and a past king lion, past president of Bar Harbor Merchants’ Committee and a former member of Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce. He enjoyed the Hayseed Ball and was a member of Harbor Lighters. Chauncey, along with his wife, Nancy, who predeceased him in 1979, was a member of Island Square Dance Club. He was a director of Bar Harbor Savings and Loan Association for 31 years, serving on the executive committee and was president of the association during his last three years on the board.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia; sister, Linda Palfrey; and his brother-in-law, Robert E. Butler. Chauncey and his late wife, Nancy raised six children. He leaves behind his six children and their spouses, James E. McFarland and his wife, Joyce, William K. McFarland and his wife, Karen, Boyd W. McFarland and his wife, Linda, all of Bar Harbor, Linda M. Olsen of Seneca, Ill., Julia M. Crafts of York and Chauncey A. McFarland III of Portsmouth, N.H. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren, Michael McFarland of Trenton, Sarah and her husband, Matt McEachern, Bethany and her husband, Mat Reece, Matt and his wife, Sasha McFarland, and Megan McFarland, all of Bar Harbor, Mary Ann and her husband, Chris Reed, of Far Hills, N.J., Lauren McFarland of Portland, Jason and his wife, Julie McFarland, of Cranston, R.I., Christine Olsen and John Olsen, both of Seneca, Ill., Jonathan Crafts of Newtonville, Mass., Thomas and his wife, Elizabeth Crafts, of Durham, N.C., Daniel McFarland and Conor McFarland of Eliot; 10 great-grandchildren; several cousins, and many nieces and nephews. Chauncey is also survived by Virginia’s children and their families, Peggy Collins and her husband, Clayton, of Rockland and Steve Wheaton and his wife, Mary Giltner, of Tucson, Ariz. Chauncey was predeceased by his three sisters, Statie M. Foster, Adelma M. Richardson and Gertrude M. Butler; and his son-in-law, Wyman L. Olsen. Wyman will be singing “Precious Lord” to Chauncey when he arrives in heaven.
Friends may call 3-6 p.m. Wednesday, March 2, at Jordan-Fernald Funeral Home, formally McFarland Funeral Home, 48 Eden St., Bar Harbor, where a funeral will take place 2 p.m. Thursday, March 3, with the Rev. Jonathan Appleyard officiating. Spring burial will take place at Ledgelawn Cemetery. Donations in his memory may be made to YMCA, 21 Park St., Bar Harbor, ME 04609. Condolences may be expressed at
www.jordanfernald.com.