Barbara Lou McFarland
August 6, 1928 – June 28, 2024
Barbara Lou McFarland passed away on June 28, 2024, within one month of her 96th birthday, surrounded by her family. Her friends knew her as Barb, but her favorite name was “Grandma Barb” when called by her 49 grandkids.
Barb was born in Twin Falls, Idaho on August 6, 1928 to Omer and Cleo Diehl. She married William Sparks in Elko, Nevada. Their family included four sons and one daughter – George, Jerry, Don, Bob, and Sarah Louise. They lived in Idaho, moving to Seattle, Chimacum, and then settling in Sequim.
While in Sequim Barb and William separated; William died in 1965. Barb worked hard to help provide for her family as a waitress, hospital aide, and nursing home aide. She would be the first to admit her toughest job was keeping up with her five children, who all graduated from Sequim High School.
Barb met Donald McFarland and together they lived in Sequim for over 60 years. They both had many stories which all family and friends enjoyed – hunting, fishing (both commercial and recreational), as well as trips to Reno and bingo/casino.
Barb, along with her family, was an avid sports fan. She never missed an opportunity to support her kids, grandkids AND great grandkids at their many sporting events. She was their biggest fan. She also managed to find the time to cheer on her favorite teams – Mariners, Kansas City Chiefs, and Oregon Ducks (against the wishes of her many family Husky fans).
Barbara is survived by husband Donald and five children – George (Barbara) Sparks of Moses Lake, Jerry (Doris) Sparks of Port Angeles, Don Sparks of Sequim, Bob (Gwen) Sparks of Wenatchee, and Sarah Louise Sparks Sequim as well as step-son Mike McFarland. She was preceded in death by her grand-daughter Amy Sparks and daughter-in-law Barbara. Additionally, she has 11 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and 17 great-great-grandchildren.
Barb will be missed most for her laugh, quick wit and great memory. The family would like to offer a heartfelt thank you to Sarah Louise, her daughter for her care and support, caregivers from Home Instead, and the nurses and doctors at Swedish Hospital and Olympic Memorial.
A private family gathering is being planned for September. In lieu of flowers, a donation in her memory can be made to a favorite charity.
Dr. James Joseph Gift
July 25, 1942-June 26, 2024
Jim received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University in 1964 and a masters and PHD from Rutgers University focused on Environmental Science. These credentials led to a 30-year career in environmental consulting where he rose to the position of Senior Vice President at EA Science and Technology, a public company. His work consisted of helping industry and municipalities to comply with environmental regulation, including permitting for many of the early nuclear power plants in the United States and work with New York City permitting waste disposal.
He exited this work at the age of 55 and spent the next 10 years as a professional nature photographer. His photography focused on landscapes, birds and other animals. He won Best of Show two years in a row at the Waterfowl Festival in Easton, New Jersey as well as several other awards for his images. After retiring to Sequim with his wife, Audrey, he developed his skill in water color and has exhibited his work in local galleries and shows. He looked forward to his Tuesday afternoon painting group with the North Olympic Watercolorists.
Jim shared his love for the outdoors with family and friends, leading canoeing trips, fishing on the Jersey shore, hunting with his son in Delaware, creating beautiful landscapes and gardens, crabbing in Sequim Bay with his friend Bill Hubbard, identifying wildflowers in Olympic National Park and birding wherever he was. Birding has been a passion of Jim’s throughout his adult life. During his 57 years of marriage to Audrey they spent all of their vacations either birding or being with family. Their favorite birding vacation was to Costa Rica. In Sequim he was on the Board of the Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society, serving as Conservation Chairperson and President. He and Audrey received the Harlequin Award in 2014. He worked to establish support for the Wild Olympics Campaign which protects waterways within the national parks. In that role, he facilitated negotiations between local Native American tribes and logging companies which illustrated his ability to achieve meaningful environment outcomes by balancing conservation with commerce.
Jim’s unwavering integrity and kindness to those in need was present throughout his life. As a child, he always defended the underdog. As a parent, he welcomed a friend’s son into our home to facilitate them addressing some personal matters. And when in Michigan, he mentored young male refugees from Sudan. He brought jovial laughter and sharing of a belief that there’s always a way. Jim also hosted many a good meal, wild game dinners with collected red wines, Dungeness crab cakes, rosemary marinated lamb, pesto from the garden and homemade ratatouille.
Jim is survived by his wife Audrey, son Craig Gift, daughter Andrea Gift Allan, grandson Nicolaus Gift and granddaughter Augusta Allan. His laughter and strength will be sorely missed. A memorial will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church at 2pm July 14th. In lieu of flowers it would be preferred that you donate to Trinity United Methodist Church or the Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society. Both have donation buttons on their website. James Joseph Gift was an incredibility modest man and he’d be very disappointed that his kids wrote a send-off this long.
Roland Miller
1932-2024
Roland Miller passed away on February 3, 2024, in Sequim, WA.
He was born in Bronx, New York to Sol & Esther Miller. At the age of 3 he traveled with his mother to Los Angeles, California, where he grew up. He attended Woodrow Wilson High School in Los Angeles and went on from there to the California Institute of Technology, where he earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degrees in Civil Engineering. He was licensed to practice civil engineering and structural engineering in California, Guam and Saipan.
Upon graduation, he worked for six months as a design engineer before being drafted into the U.S. Navy. There he served with the Seabees in the Philippines at Subic Bay and Sangley Point.
Upon being discharged, he went to work as a structural engineer for the Wm. D. Coffey consulting engineering firm, where he rose to become a vice president. In 1965 he traveled to the Philippines again where he managed the consulting engineering firm of Rogers Engineering. It was there that he met his wife, Betty Ferrell, and earned his private pilot’s license.
He and Betty, the love of his life, were married in Perth, Australia on June 22, 1971. He worked as Chief Engineer of Texada Mines in Carnarvon and in Perth, Australia. His desire to travel and work in different places brought him and Betty to Singapore in 1975, where he became Managing Director of Boustead Engineering, Ltd.
Upon returning to the United States in 1981, he formed Professional Export Marketing Services and spent several years marketing technical products to the Far East. From 1985 to 1991, he worked for Kitchell CEM in charge of the New Prison Construction Program for the State of California. He then went to work for Jaykim Engineers and eventually became president of the company.
His last employment as an engineer was for Winzler & Kelly, where he managed the Guam, Saipan and Palau offices of the company, retiring in 1997.
In 1999, he and Betty designed and built their dream home on the 12th fairway of the SunLand Golf Course in Sequim, Washington. But he soon became bored with retirement and started a new career in real estate as Managing Broker with Coldwell Banker Town & Country in which he earned a membership in the Coldwell Banker Sterling and Diamond Societies and often stated that it was the most rewarding work that he had ever done in his life.
He was an active and life member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in which he served in many positions including Exalted Ruler and Chairman of Trustees for the Sequim Elks Lodge. He was also a member of the SunLand Golf & Country Club, the Masons in which he was Past Master of Cosmos Lodge #8 in Manila, Philippines, Shriners and Rotary.
He is survived by his sister and brother-in-law and extended family.
There will be a memorial ceremony at the Sequim Elks Lodge on July 27th at 11am. Any donations should be made to the Washington Elks Therapy Program for Children at the Sequim Elks Lodge, 143 Port Williams Road, Sequim WA 98382.
Harvey Katz
Harvey Katz of Port Angeles died of age-related causes on July 7, 2024, at Olympic View Care.
He was 86.
Katz was born Jan. 12, 1938.
Notice of a memorial service is pending.
Sign an online guestbook for the family at drennanford.com.
Janet E. Hayduk
Janet E. Hayduk of Port Angeles died of dementia causes on July 2, 2024, at Olympic View Care.
She was 85.
Hayduk was born Oct. 3, 1938.
There will be no funeral, at her request.
A graveside burial will be at Tahoma National Cemetery.
Sign an online guestbook for the family at drennanford.com.
