Susan McFarland

Susan Elizabeth McFarland, 60, passed away and went through the doggy door on August 8th, 2023. After spending the last 18 months living out her best mermaid life on the beach in Galveston, she spent her last week surrounded by family in the Austin area.

Susan was remarkably creative, intelligent, and wildly funny. She loved to create and voice characters for her children, and read to us using unique voices for characters in books. She got such joy out of regularly calling in to KLBJ FM in the 90s/00s as the iconic and unforgettable Lady Bird Johnson. Susan wore so many hats. She worked in ad sales in the late 80's for the San Marcos Daily Record, where she would use unsold space to publish notes to her daughter affectionately known as Scooter Patooter. She also worked in the publishing and distribution of Herb Clip for the American Botanical Council. After going back to school at 40, she worked as a SLAC chemistry tutor at Texas State University. Following graduation she became a chemistry teacher for Manor, Midland, and Hays school districts. Susan most recently used her creativity and unparalleled acting skills as a standardized patient at UTMB to help train new doctors.

Susan was preceded in death by Mr Rogers, Puppy, and Panda Waggy. She is survived by Nicholas Cage, Jack Black, Ian Moore, Spam Likely, Vanessa Bear, daughter Laura and James Foster, daughter Kelly Po McFarland, son Dylan Thomas Choo Choo Train Station McBryde, granddaughter Zoe Steffy, bowler Terry McFarland, walking partner Julie Oolie, bff Jeff McVey, and good boy Mr Jackie Doo.

The family is holding a private ceremony and asks that in lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to your local animal shelter or food bank, donating blood and/or platelets, registering to be an organ donor, donating your body to science after you pass, or reaching out to your local congressperson in favor of death with dignity laws. Mom's love for science and education lives on as she helps educate new medical professionals at UTSA. As Mr Rogers would put it, our mother was a helper, and helping others would be the best way to honor her memory.

Susan would like to encourage everyone to get regular cancer screenings and to follow your dreams, regardless of your age. She loved to taunt, "You won't!"