Obituaries

Life of San Diego Sheriff's Deputy Michael McFarlan Celebrated

Those in attendance at Friday's celebration of life for San Diego County Sheriff's Deputy Michael McFarlan, of Murrieta, included San Diego Sheriff William Gore and countless law enforcement colleagues, friends and family members.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department, family and friends of Deputy Michael McFarlan gathered Friday in Temecula to celebrate his life.

McFarlan, 48, a five-year veteran of the San Diego Sheriff's Department who worked out of the Valley Center Substation, died suddenly Sept. 24 of heart-related natural causes at his home in Murrieta.

At 11 a.m. Friday, hundreds of public safety personnel, including San Diego Sheriff William Gore, joined McFarlan's wife of 22 years, Tamara, and the couple's four children at Sunridge Community Church to honor and remember his life.

"When someone dies at Mike's age and in apparent good health, it is confusing," said Valley Center sheriff's Chaplain Bill Trok. "I know many of you are dealing with mixed emotions. He was a husband, a father, a brother, an uncle, a cousin, a partner and a friend."

But Trok urged the large crowd to celebrate their memories of him, and so they did.

Sheriff's Chaplain Scott Anderson kicked it off by saying he had spent some time with McFarlan's family. One of the things he said he learned was that McFarlan was notorious for being the dad who took his children to school or walked the neighborhood while wearing his boxer shorts and Ugg boots.

That evoked a chuckle from the crowd, as Anderson went on to say the deputy was the neighborhood dad who spent time outside playing with not just his own children but anyone else's who wanted to play.

Around the station, McFarlan was dubbed "Deputy Daycare" after he helped a woman give birth who had called 911, Anderson said.

McFarlan was described as good-natured and kind. He lived a righteous life, Anderson said, and taught his triplet sons, now 15 years old and student-athletes at Vista Murrieta High School, to live with principles.

His daughter, Rilyn, 7, was his "princess;" when she came along, she balanced the testosterone in the house, Anderson said, garnering another laugh from the audience.

Four of McFarlan's best friends, some of whom had known him since childhood while growing up in San Diego, also spoke. Others had met McFarlan during the course of his 24-year career in the tire business.

"He wanted nothing more than to provide the best life for his family," said Shaun Anderson, who had remained close friends with McFarlan after their time working together at Discount Tire.

Bruce Bosworth said he had known McFarlan for 38 years. They met playing Little League and had stayed friends ever since.

"He loved to work, I never knew anyone who worked so much," Bosworth said. "And he hated shoe shopping...His shoes would be so worn out, with strings hanging off, but he would just keep working and say 'I don't have time for that.'"

McFarlan worked for Discount Tire from 1992 until 2006, Chaplain Trok said as he gave the eulogy. In 2007, McFarlan enrolled at the San Diego Regional Law Enforcement Training Center to follow his dream of becoming a cop.

"He decided life was too short not to go after his dream," Trok said. "He graduated in 2008 with the dual distinction of being 42 years old and making the academic dean's list."

Trok went on to say that because McFarlan "chased his dreams, he became a great deputy."

"But most importantly, he loved his wife and kids very deeply."

Following Trok's and the other's remarks, a photo slideshow began playing to the tune of Guns N Roses' 'Sweet Child of Mine.'"

At the conclusion of the service, Sheriff Gore presented a flag to McFarlan's family as the large crowd looked on.

Outside the church, members of the Temecula, Murrieta and Pechanga fire departments flew a large American flag from two ladder trucks.

Murrieta firefighter/paramedic Garrick Eyman was among those who came to Friday's service because McFarlan was a personal friend of his. It was tough, Eyman said, because they had been neighbors for 12 years, and their daughters were currently in the same class at Buchanan Elementary School.

There were also representatives from the San Diego Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol, Carlsbad Police, Temecula Police and Murrieta Police, Matt Clay, president of the Deputy Sheriffs' Association of San Diego County told Patch.

The number of agencies and friends who came to pay their respects was an indication of the type of man McFarlan was, Clay said.

"There may very well be people here who went through the academy with him, so there is that personal connection," Clay said. "We are paying respect to a law enforcement brother."

Did you know Deputy Michael McFarlan? Share your memories in the comment section below.


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