Mary Lou Neill McFarland Clauss, age 73, passed away on February 26, 2016 at Pullman Regional Hospital. A reception will be held in her honor on Saturday, March 19 at 1:00 PM at Banyan's on the Ridge. A private family interment will take place at the Pullman Cemetery.

Mary Lou was born on November 17, 1942 in Anaheim, California, to Gregory Neill and Norma 'Tillie' Unruh Neill. She was raised in Pullman where her favorite hobby was caring for and riding her horse "Jimmy." She graduated from Pullman High School in 1961 then attended classes at WSU where she was a member of the Delta Gama Sorority. Her summers were spent working at Conkling Park on Lake Coeur D'Alene, where she met and later married James McFarland in 1962. They were married for 22 years and had three children - Mike (1963), Rob (1966), and Jenifer (1970) - who they raised in Yakima, Washington, after some brief time in Colfax, East Wenatchee, Cashmere, and Sunnyside.

In 1987, Mary Lou married Dennis Clauss and the couple built a house in West Valley (Yakima), where she was happy to have horses again. Dennis and his band played for events throughout the region and Mary Lou enjoyed traveling with him and meeting new people. They were married for 25 years.

Mary Lou returned to school and earned her nursing degree from Yakima Valley College in 1977. She began her nursing career working at Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital's Critical Care Unit. In 1982 she joined Internal Medicine Associates, working there for 20 years. Her last five years of practice were spent working with Dr. Treece at Yakima Endocrine Center until she retired from full-time work in 2007.

After retiring, she began working as a diabetes and osteoporosis educator, traveling to clinics and private homes throughout the state, helping those in need and educating people about maintaining and improving their health. In 2014 Mary Lou was honored with the Washington State Diabetic Educator of the Year award. Mary Lou continued this work until December 2015. After returning to Pullman in 2013, she became an active volunteer with the Pullman Hospital Auxiliary.

Mary Lou was the quintessential "people person" and enjoyed meeting new people and maintaining an active social life. Most notably, she was excited to be back in Pullman, catching up with old friends and spending time with her sisters. She also loved horseback riding, gardening, and traveling - recent trips included China, New England and Ireland (where she was able to visit the Neill family's ancestral home). She also enjoyed spending time with Daisy, her dachshund.

Mary Lou is survived by her children Michael (married to Joy) McFarland of Selah, Robert (married to Cindy) McFarland of Bainbridge Island, and Jenifer McFarland Bair of Selah; sisters Carolee (married to William) Armfield of Pullman and Nancy (married to Jerry) Roberts of Potlatch, and brother Gary (married to Nancy) Neill of Lynnwood; seven grandchildren (Erik and Michelle McFarland, Connor and Ian McFarland, Jace, Seth and Ryan Bair) and many cousins, nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, Greg and Tillie Neill.

Memorial contributions in Mary Lou's honor are suggested to the Pullman Hospital Auxiliary. Kimball Funeral Home & Crematory of Pullman has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.