Trudy Mcfarland

Trudy M. McFarland, 84, passed away Friday, January 22, 2010 at Midland Hospice. She was born February 12, 1925 in Topeka to Edward W. and Barbara F. (Wagner) McFarland.

Trudy was a student in Topeka schools, graduating from Topeka High School in 1943. She attended Washburn University where she majored in journalism. In July, 1943, she married L.E. Clifton Bailey. Mr. Bailey died in 1951. She married Patrick W. Carr and they were later divorced. She married Richard Cummins and divorced. In 1960 Trudy married William H. Craig, Jr. They were married for 30 years.

Trudy worked in various McFarland's Restaurants over the years, and also worked for an oil company in New Mexico, the Houston Telephone Federal Credit Union and then managed Joske's Credit Union in Houston, Texas. In Lafayette, Louisiana Trudy was employed by Kaplan and Associates.
Trudy came back to Topeka in 1987 to care for her parents and began working for Merle Norman Cosmetics Studio.

In 2005 she wrote and published a book, DIARY of A GERMAN WAR BRIDE, the story of her mother, for which she received the J. Donald Coffin Award in 2006. In 2009 the book was recognized in PEN WOMAN, the national publication of NLAPW.

Trudy McFarland was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha, Delta Theta Chi, Write Stuff, Kansas Authors Club, National League of American Pen Women, Kansas Native Sons and Daughters, Friends of Art at Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, the Clan McFarland Society, and Faith Community Church.

She is survived by her children, Barbara Waterman-Peters (Larry), Kayleigh Carabajal (Lorenzo), Shanon White (Chet) and William H. Craig III (Debi), 9 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, two sisters-in-law, Jane (Bailey) Cronenberger and Marjie McFarland, and many nieces and nephews. Trudy was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Carl and Walt McFarland, two sisters-in-law, Betty (Smith) McFarland and Doris (Patterson) McFarland, a grandson, Broier Walter Riley III, and a niece, Wendy McFarland.

Memorial contributions may be made to Alice C. Sabatini Gallery at Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 SW 10th Ave, Topeka, KS 66604, or Mulvane Art Museum, 1700 College Ave, Topeka, KS 66621, or Midland Care Hospice Services, 200 SW Frazier Cir, Topeka, KS 66606.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, January 28 at Penwell Gabel Mid Town Chapel. Burial will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitation will be on Wednesday, January 27, from 5:30-7:30 at the funeral home.