Billy Dwight McFarland was born on January 11, 1953 to Leffel and Helen Pauline McFarland in Mountain Home, Arkansas. He spent his childhood fishing and running around the Ozark Mountains with his siblings and his lifelong friend, Barney Crawford. During Bill’s high school years he played baseball and basketball and started attending church services with Barney at Clarkridge Church of Christ.Continue Reading
Billy Dwight McFarland was born on January 11, 1953 to Leffel and Helen Pauline McFarland in Mountain Home, Arkansas. He spent his childhood fishing and running around the Ozark Mountains with his siblings and his lifelong friend, Barney Crawford. During Bill’s high school years he played baseball and basketball and started attending church services with Barney at Clarkridge Church of Christ. This is where he became a believer in Christ, was baptized, met and married his wife, Kay Pendergrass in 1974. In 1971, Bill attended Crowley’s Ridge College. Then in 1973, Bill continued his higher education at Lubbock Christian University, where he graduated in 1975 with top honors and a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Bill and Kay began work in ministry together in Wellman, Texas before moving to Green Forest, Arkansas. In 1985, Bill began work as the Pulpit Minister at the North National Church of Christ which later became Water Mill Church of Christ in Springfield, Missouri, where he served for 40 years. During Bill’s ministry he impacted countless lives through preaching, teaching, counseling, mentoring, weddings, funeral services, compassionate care in hospitals and nursing homes, and especially working with young people at Green Valley Bible Camp. Bill was a humble servant of God who committed his life to holding up the Lord before everyone he met.
Bill passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on July 18, 2025 after a courageous battle with cancer. He is preceded in death by Leffel McFarland, Pauline (McFarland) Redmon, and Keith McFarland. He is survived by his wife, Kay, his children and their spouses, Rob and Anita McFarland, Kari and Justin Hatfield, and Andy and Kirsten McFarland; his siblings and their spouses Bobby and Barbara McFarland, Warren and Joann McFarland, Phillip and Sharain McFarland, Monty McFarland, Darren and Lisa McFarland, Anita and Ronny Ripple, and Kent McFarland; and his eight beloved grandchildren, Ian, Lily, Seth, Silas, Harper, Liam, Kyrah, and Madden.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the AIM program through the Fairview Heights Church of Christ.
By check: Please make checks directly to the Fairview Heights Church of Christ and put “Dillon Murray/AIM” in the memo line.
Fairview Heights Church of Christ
9955 Bunkum Rd.
Fairview Heights, IL 62208
Online: please visit https://tinyurl.com/DillonAIM
Services are under the direction of Greenlawn Funeral Homes
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