Jerry Lee McFarland, 89, of Mooresville, N.C., passed away on Sunday, April 9, 2023, at his residence.

He was born on July 30, 1933 in Kansas City, Mo., to the late Frank and Faye Seidelman McFarland. Mr. McFarland was a U.S. Air Force veteran and served during the Korean war. Upon his discharge, he attended the Academy of Aeronautics in New York. He was employed at Grumman Aerospace on Long Island and helped develop the F-14, the fighter jet featured in the movie Top Gun. He was a boating enthusiast and a certified scuba diver, an avid golfer, and enjoyed reading, boating, watching movies, and being with his family.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Lowell Dean McFarland (Nancy).

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Diane Oleksa McFarland; children, Scott McFarland (Barbara) and Jamie McFarland; brothers, Lee McFarland (Pat) and Phil McFarland (Elizabeth); grandchildren, Katelyn, Brooke, Megan, Kevin, and Chris; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the National Kidney Foundation, 7413 Six Forks Road #255 Raleigh, NC 27615. (704)-519-0020 or St. Jude Children Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 (800)-822-6344.

Cavin-Cook Funeral Home & Crematory, Mooresville, is serving the McFarland family. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.