Daphne Maude McFarland

Daphne Maude McFarland died November 1, 2011 in Houston following a brief illness. She was born in Sydney, Australia on January 19, 1919, the only child of Leslie and Lavina Smith. Her formative years were spent in Brisbane where she grew up, went to school and made many lifelong friends. As a young woman she became noted for her ballroom dancing, and was even invited to join a professional troupe.
Brisbane became the base of US operations in the Pacific during the Second World War when General MacArthur moved his headquarters there after leaving the Philippines. Many US servicemen were in and out of Brisbane in those days and one of them was a handsome young lieutenant from Missouri, Clint McFarland. Daphne married Clint in 1944, leaving behind a string of broken hearts. In 1946, Daphne bravely boarded a war bride ship with daughter, Carole, and set sail for America to join her husband and begin her new life.
They eventually settled in Amarillo, Texas, by which time a son Steve had been added to the family.
Daphne was first and foremost a devoted mother to her children. After they were grown, she worked in an Amarillo department store, eventually becoming accessories buyer, and later became the manager of the fur department in another store. Daphne had an enviable sense of style and found her niche in the fashion world where she had a long and fulfilling career. She retired in 1998 and moved to Houston to be near her daughter. She lived her final years at The Terrace Memorial City where she made many friends whom she loved and was loved in return. She was a kind, caring, thoughtful and compassionate person, beautiful inside and out. She will be terribly missed by family and friends, but remembered always. She was a lifelong Catholic and her faith brought her comfort during the difficult times and happiness during the good.
She was predeceased by her husband, Clint. She is survived by daughter Carole McFarland of Houston, son Steve McFarland of Chesterfield, Missouri, his wife Beth, and two grandsons, Scott and Philip McFarland.
The family wishes to give special thanks to the staff at Stoneybrook Healthcare Center for their unwavering kindness and care, and to the 7th floor staff at Memorial Hermann Memorial City Hospital for their compassion at the end of her life. She had a special connection to animals (St. Francis of Assisi was her favorite saint), and will also be missed by two cats and a very special little parrot. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Citizens for Animal Protection or to a Catholic charity of your choice.
Visitation will be in the Hunters Creek chapel at Earthman Funeral Directors on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM with a rosary to be recited at 7:00pm. Mass will be said on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 10:00am at Our Lady of Walsingham Church, 7809 Shadyvilla Lane, Houston, Texas 77055. Following the Mass, friends are cordially invited to a reception at St. Jude Hall adjacent to the church.