William K. McFarland

BAR HARBOR - William K. McFarland, 63, died March 9, 2013, at a Bangor hospital after a 1 1/2 year battle with cancer. He was born March 22, 1949, in Bar Harbor, son of Chauncey A. Jr. and Nancy M. McFarland.

Bill graduated from Bar Harbor High School in 1967. After graduation, he attended The New England School of Applied Arts and Science, and Bryant Stratton Business Institute, both in Boston. He married Karen Goulette Dec. 10, 1977, and they recently celebrated 35 years of marriage. Throughout the course of his life he worked in many professions including life insurance sales at Northwestern Mutual, and owning and operating the former McFarland Funeral Home. He went on to become the marketing director at Bar Harbor Banking and Trust Co. While there, he renovated and established the Quimby House Inn, which he owned for seven years. For the past 15 years Bill focused on his real passion of property development, while also working as a commercial real estate broker at Swan Agency Sotheby's International Realty. He was a member of the Acadia council of the Maine Association of Realtors. Bill was very active in his community. He was on the board of directors at First National Bank of Bar Harbor, Kebo Valley Golf Club and the YMCA, at which he was also a trustee. He was a former Little League commissioner, volunteer firefighter and was on Ledgelawn Cemetery Committee. Bill was a member of Bar Harbor Masonic Lodge No. 185 and Anah Temple Shrine. He was once a member of Mount Desert Island Rotary and MDI Lions Club, where he proudly served as king lion like his father before him. Bill loved his family and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. He also had many good friends. He spent many hours grilling dinner for his guests, especially when he hosted the traditional McFarland family cookout on the Fourth of July. Bill enjoyed working, golfing, traveling and whenever the opportunity arose, taking a boat ride. He promoted his hometown of Bar Harbor any chance he could and enjoyed dining at a number of local restaurants.

Bill is survived by his wife, Karen; daughters, Lauren McFarland of Portland, and Mary Ann Reed and husband, Chris, of Bernardsville, N.J.; son, Matt McFarland and wife, Sasha, of Bar Harbor; four grandchildren, Conner, Elyse, Hayley and Tyler Reed of Bernardsville, N.J.; two sisters, Linda Olsen of Seneca, Ill., and Julia Crafts of York; three brothers, James McFarland and wife, Joyce, Boyd McFarland and wife, Linda, all of Bar Harbor, and Chauncey McFarland III and wife, Diane, of Portsmouth, N.H.; aunt, Linda Palfrey of Bar Harbor; many nieces, nephews and cousins. His family thinks the following quote describes Bill's personality, "A stranger is a friend I haven't met yet." - Will Rogers

Visiting hours will be 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, at Jordan-Fernald, 1139 Main St., Mount Desert. A celebration of Bill's life will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, March 14, at St. Saviour's Episcopal Church, 41 Mount Desert St., Bar Harbor. Those who desire may make contributions in Bill's memory to MDI - YMCA, 21 Park St., Bar Harbor, ME 04609; or MDI Hospital, 10 Wayman Lane, Bar Harbor, ME 04609. Condolences may be expressed at www.jordanfernald.com.