Obituary of Derry MacFarlane

March 31, 1934 – Calgary, Alberta

May 28, 2024 – Calgary, Alberta

 

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Derry MacFarlane on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, surrounded by his loved ones. Derry resided in Calgary, AB, most of his life with only a few short years in Vancouver, BC, but he was a proud native Calgarian through and through.

 

In 1998, Derry wrote a book titled ‘Mr. Mac’s Memories of an East End Kid’. This personal memoir was filled with amazing, hilarious, and poignant stories of his life from childhood to adult. It is a book we will treasure forever.

 

In the dedication, Derry wrote, “I have always been a strong believer in the importance of family and friends. It is to them I dedicate this writing, for without them, there would be no story.”

 

So now it is our honour to dedicate these words to him. To many, he was Derry, Derby, Mr. Mac, coach, Deacon, uncle, papa, and grandpa, but to us, penning this today, including his wife Norma, he was simply “dad.”

 

Dad was born in Calgary in 1934, at the Calgary General Hospital. He was the son of Murdoch (Bert) and Ophelia MacFarlane and was the second youngest of ten children. He had five brothers, Dennis (Denny), Melvin (Mel), Ashely (Kelly), Bruce and Ronald (Ron) and four sisters, Elsie, Merle, Heather, and Beverly (Bev), who have sadly all since passed, but we know they were waiting for their family entertainer and organizer with open arms.

 

Dad would beam when talking about his family and sharing stories about their early days. Many of the years were lean in material things but abundant in love. Even for such a large family with a wide age gap, they were incredibly close. It was truly a home filled with love, friendship, respect, and happiness. Dancing, music, and laughter were a staple.

 

The family continued to expand throughout the years as significant others were introduced and then followed by their families. The outcome is a large, robust, fun-loving MacFarlane clan. For years, dad and mom would make a concentrated effort to get everyone together for summer picnics, including the annual golf tournament and races, and annual Christmas parties where, of course, he would don his red suit and be the perfect Santa. Both parties always included family, and friends of the family; the more, the merrier.

 

It was in the early 1950s when dad introduced his new sweetheart, Norma Robinson, to the Clan whom he would marry on February 18, 1956. Within their legacy of 68 years of marriage, they would welcome their own five beautiful children, later seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

 

Dad was predeceased by his two eldest daughters. His first daughter Denise passed away as a young child in 1960, and his second daughter Derilynn passed just two months ago, in March. He was also predeceased by his grandson Cory in 2023.

 

Dad is survived by his wife Norma, sons Derry (Lynn) MacFarlane, and Darren MacFarlane; and daughter Deanne (Brad) Thompson. He is also lovingly remembered and survived by his grandchildren Chris (Stephanie) Wolden, Robyn (Philip) Calvert, Jayme MacFarlane, Breanne Thompson, Brittany Thompson, and Matthew MacFarlane; and Great-grandchildren Alexus, Nolan, Aaden, Emery, Kean, Ellie, Rebecca, and Emma who were also the sparkle of his eye.

 

Dad supported his family working his entire career in the Oil and Gas industry, first as a draftsman for Nickle Map, then for many years as an oil scout and finally as an independent landman running his own company Dermac Resources until his retirement.

 

Dad wore many hats in his lifetime, and he excelled at them all. The list of his achievements and accomplishments is extensive. To name just a few, dad was an extremely talented artist; his specialty was mountain scenes, and many of his pieces adorn walls and bookshelves around Calgary. Dad was a Councillor for the MD of Rocky View County for twelve years and was always an active member of the Bearspaw Lions Club, he held many offices within that organization, including President.  Dad was also a proud member of the Calgary Old Time Hockey Players Association.

 

One of Dad’s biggest passions outside of family was sports. From a young age, he played sports of all kinds. He loved baseball and was proud that he even had a tryout for a Major League ball team. He was a hockey player for many years, right up until his senior-most years. He was a hockey referee for the Alberta Amateur Hockey Association and was also involved in the Western Pro Hockey League.  He was an avid golfer and proud to be one of the original members of the Bearspaw Golf and Country Club. He loved football and was proud to coach his son’s high school team, the Cochrane Cobras. He then went on to coach numerous Bantam Football players for the Bearspaw Lions Football Club, and he mentored many young men during those years. They all loved Coach Mac.

 

Dad even enjoyed taking to the slopes during annual ski trips with family and friends.  His outfit resembled the great A&W Root Bear, and everyone knew it was best to get out of the way if you saw him coming. Perhaps skiing may be the one thing he didn’t excel at, but it was entertaining, nonetheless.

 

But when remembering Dad and the mark he left on the world, his footprint is much bigger than the things he did and his many accomplishments; it is who he was as a person.

 

Dad was always surrounded by an army of friends and family because you couldn’t help but gravitate towards his quick wit, his kindness, positive disposition, gentle nature, and of course, his endless hilarious stories. He was the life of the party, but always conscious of making sure everyone was having a good time. Dad would extend his hand to anyone going above and beyond helping those in need, whether it was offering someone a few dollars or finding them a place to live.

 

Up until his last days, although sometimes clouded with dementia, he always told us he loved us, asked if he could help us in any way, offered to walk us to our car, held the door, demanded a hug, and made us promise you would come back and visit soon.

 

He loved us all so very much, but the love he had for his wife, Norma, could never be described accurately in words. He told her every day about how beautiful she looked, how he loved her outfit or hair and how much he adored her. Frequently, dad would come home with a fresh bouquet of flowers for mom. His last words to mom were, “I love you SO much.”

 

And dad, we love you SO much and we will truly miss you. We hope you are enjoying your time with all who have gone before you and sipping your rum and cokes and cracking a few jokes or playing a song on your guitar. We know you will be the first to greet us all, because that is just who you are.

 

We invite all those who knew and loved him to share a memory or story of dad in the guest book area below. We would love to read them all.

 

With Love, Your wife Norma, Derry, Darren, and Deanne.

 

A Celebration of Derry and Derilynn's Life will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2024, at Bearspaw Lions Hall ( 25240 Nagway Rd, Calgary, AB T3R). More information will be available at a later date.

 

Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed with Derry’s family here.

 

In living memory of Derry MacFarlane, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Calgary Crematorium, 3219 – 4th Street NW, Calgary, AB, T2M 3A6, Telephone: 403-299-0111.