Zoa Erskine McFarland, 95, passed away peacefully with family at her side on the early morning of Aug. 17 at Cove’s Edge in Damariscotta. Born in Damariscotta on July 11, 1920, she was the daughter of the late Wilder Erskine and Elzira Eugley Chase.
Zoa was raised in Damariscotta where she went to the local school and attended Lincoln Academy. She married the love of her life, James McFarland in February of 1939, and the couple experienced nearly 70 years of marriage. She met James as a teenager while working at the Cove Side Inn in South Bristol. The couple were longtime residents of South Bristol, where they raised their four lovely children, Neil, Barbara, Wendy and Sherry.
Zoa was a homemaker all of her life, where she dedicated her life and energy to her husband and children. She was a great cook, and loved having her family and friends around her for family gatherings. She had a great love for her family, which she greatly appreciated.
As a hobby, Zoa loved to knit. She would knit items, such as mittens, sweaters, afghans and doll outfits that were given to family members. She loved to travel with James to the Moosehead Lake Region, and Northern parts of Maine. Whenever they had the opportunity, they would be in their car and off they would go to their favorite places.
She enjoyed card games and playing Yahtzee and Chinese Checkers with family and friends. Zoa treasured all the good times they had together. She loved her animals, and feeding her feathered friends, including the gulls that she fed each day.
Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, James in 2008; sisters, Harriet Willey, Helen Rice and Mary Varricchio; brother, Thomas Erskine; and soninlaw, Robert Woodward.
Zoa is survived by her son, Neil McFarland and wife Emma of South Bristol; daughters, Barbara Woodward of Nobleboro, Wendy Dunham and husband Devin of Lisbon, and Sherry Mortensen and husband Aaron of Waldoboro; grandchildren, Elaine Rector of Damariscotta, Tracy Lane of South Bristol, Angela Mercer and Stacy Woodward of Nobleboro, Brittany Prock of Rockland, Cameron Prock of Jefferson, Brandon and Kallon Mortensen of Waldoboro, and Gerald (JJ) Dunham of Lisbon; greatgrandchildren, Corey, Casey, Alan (AJ), Nicholas, Madalyn, Aubrey and Avery; as well as one great-great-grandchild, Easton.
A time of visitation will take place from 10-11 a.m., Sat., Aug. 29 at the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta, where a service will take place at 11 a.m. She will be laid to rest with her husband at the West Bristol Cemetery in Walpole.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the South Bristol First Responders, PO Box 150, South Bristol, ME 04568.
Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta, ME 04543.
