Helen Jane McFarland

Helen Jane McFarland, 81, of Arlington, Texas, passed away peacefully on January 3, 2025. Jane was born on August 10, 1943, in Kansas City, Missouri, to a family that would forever cherish her infectious humor and boundless love.

Jane and her family relocated from Missouri to Texas in 1948. She attended Our Lady of Victory High School, where her faith and values took root, and graduated from Arlington State College (UTA). At a church social, she met the love of her life, Bob McFarland. The two were married in 1963 and shared a beautiful journey of 51 years together until Bob’s passing on July 23, 2014. Together, they raised three children, Terry, Sandy, and Bobby, and built a life filled with adventure, love, and laughter.

Jane was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. A proud member of St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church, she also shared in her husband Bob’s public service as a State Representative and State Senator, often accompanying him to Austin and participating in events as a member of Senate Ladies. She was an instant friend to everyone she met, whether in the Capitol or Tom Thumb, and she loved entertaining, from pool parties to garage gatherings. She could light up any room with her radiant smile and spunky personality that earned her the nicknames “Jumpin’ Jane” and “Crazy Janie.”

Travel was one of Jane’s greatest joys. From the beaches of South Padre Island to the vibrant art scene in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and dozens of international adventures all around the world, Jane found beauty and inspiration everywhere she went. She loved to collect art from her travels, incorporating it into her passion for interior decorating.

Jane cherished her role as “Nana” to her five grandchildren, having chosen that name to remember her own beloved Nana. They all remember her singing “You Are My Sunshine” to them. Christmas, Easter, and summers by the pool were special memories with Nana, too, as she brought her joyful spirit to every celebration. Both her daughters stayed near her to raise their own families, and Nana took full advantage of this to become a third parent to all of her grandkids. One of her greatest joys was to keep her grandkids laughing with her mischievous side; as Jane always reminded them, “What happens at Nana’s stays at Nana’s.”

Preceded in death by her parents, Milt and Helen Highfill, husband Bob, her son Bobby McFarland, her brother Jim Highfill, her sister Mary Kay Keith and husband Sonny, and her son-in-law Ron BeVelle, Jane is survived by her loving daughters, Terry BeVelle and Sandy Worth and husband Tom, her five adoring grandchildren, Lauren and Thomas Worth and Blair, Brooke, and Bailey BeVelle, brother-in-law Mike McFarland, her sisters-in-law Judy Carr and Catherine Highfill, and her nieces and nephews, Milt Highfill and wife Paula, Karen Lampton and husband Rick, Kathy Chavez and husband Joe, and Kay Cole and husband Tex. She also leaves behind a host of cherished friends, travel companions and relatives who will remember her zest for life, humor, and the unconditional love she gave so freely.

The family is thankful and appreciative for Jane's hospice care and support provided by close family friend, Terri Morgan; Jacob Favors, RN, Melanie Mason, caregiver and Kari Summers, nurse practitioner from Community Healthcare of Texas.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Wade Funeral Home. A Rosary will be recited from 5:30 to 6:00 p.m., followed by a Celebration of Life Eulogy beginning at 6:00 p.m. Guests are encouraged to arrive by this time to honor Jane’s memory.  A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church. A reception will follow at 12:30 p.m., with interment at Moore Memorial Gardens at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of tears, Jane would want you to smile and remember her love, her laughter, and the beautiful memories she shared with everyone she met. As she would say, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened!”