Dr Ronald Melvin McFarland

Dr Ronald Melvin McFarland was born June 27, 1950, and departed this life January 14, 2023, reaching the age of 72 years. He was the son of the late Melvin and Mary Brian (Twyford) McFarland.
Dr McFarland was a graduate of Wayne County High School in 1968. After high school he attended Somerset Community College and then went to the University of Kentucky where he was accepted into the University of Kentucky College of Medicine after his third year. During his college term he was part of the volunteer faculty at Eastern Kentucky University and volunteer faculty at the UK College of Medicine. In 1975 he graduated from the UK College of Medicine and returned home to open a practice with two other doctors. Phillips, Pratt, and McFarland was opened in 1976 and eventually became Monticello Medical Associates. He was the co-owner of South Creek Medical Center built in 1989 to better serve the patients of his practice.
Dr McFarland served his hometown in many ways over the years. He was Wayne County Basketball team physician for 45 years, Wayne County Park board for 30 years, Park Board Chairman for 20 years, President of the Little League Baseball for many years, coached many Little League and Jr Pro teams over the years, Wayne County Hospital Board for over 15 years, past Chief of Staff at the Wayne County Hospital, Chairman of the Wayne County Board of Health for many years, member of the Wayne County District Health Department Board for many years, and provided sports physicals to thousands of Wayne County and Monticello athletes at no cost for many years. Dr McFarland was inducted into the Wayne County Basketball Hall of Fame, Wayne County Academic Hall of Fame, and 12th Region Boys Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He was the recipient of the Dr Rudy Ellis Distinguished Service Award from the Kentucky High School Athletic Association in 2003.
Between 1976 and 1992, Dr McFarland and his friend Hank Basset, coached and sponsored softball teams called Bassett Crushers, Bassett Products, T&K/Bassett Products, Kentucky Softball, and Starpath. Starpath was a professional softball team that traveled all over the nation playing. They were national champs in 1987 and 1988. Dr McFarland was inducted into the Kentucky Softball Hall of Fame for his dedication to the sport.
In 1998 he pursued his true passion which was farming with his uncle Bill Fred Twyford. In 2005, he purchased a farm nearby and started farming with his sons. Dr McFarland spent lots of time over the years working on the farm. His happy place was either in the tractor planting corn and soybeans or in the combine harvesting the crops.
Dr McFarland is survived by his wife of 17 years, Mary Ellen Gray, sons, Ross (Alicia) McFarland of Portland, Oregon, Todd McFarland of Monticello, and Scott (Traci) McFarland of Monticello, grandchildren Devin, Kadyn, and Carly McFarland of Monticello. He is also survived by his stepson, Keelin Gray, stepdaughter, Tara Gray, step grandson Mason Gray, and step granddaughter Chloe Gray. Dr McFarland is also survived by his special aunt, Wanda Twyford of Monticello.
In addition to his parents, Melvin and Mary Brian, he was preceded in death by his son, Chris McFarland.
The family will receive friends on Monday, January 16th from 10AM until 2PM at the Wayne County High School Gymnasium. Funeral service will be held Monday, January 16th at 2PM in the Wayne County High School Gymnasium. Burial will be in the Elk Spring Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to the Dr McFarland Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Monticello Banking Company.