Scott Ian McFarlane

Scott Ian McFarlane passed away on June 20, 2024 at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colorado

Scott Ian McFarlane was born in 1951 in Hayward, California and was raised in Livermore, California. Scott skipped a grade in middle school, which was a big deal to him. He used to ride his bike around Livermore, where he had a paper route for the San Francisco Chronicle. He also enjoyed riding a motorcycle. He was mechanically inclined and fixed cars in high school. He played the clarinet and flute, and was a photographer for the Livermore High School yearbook.

Scott attended college at California Polytechnic at San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO) where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Math and Computer Science. He later earned his Masters of Science in Computer Engineering from the University of New Mexico.

Scott served in the active United States Air Force as enlisted from 1976 to 1978, as an officer from 1978 to 1984, and in the Air Force Reserves as an officer retiring in 2002. He worked as a computer programmer and analyst achieving the rank of Major (0-4). He was awarded the Air Force Meritorious Service medal, the Air Force Commendation medal with one oak leaf cluster, and the Air Force Achievement medal. He never cut his hair again.

After retiring from the military, Scott became a contractor with SAIC in New Mexico and Ohio, worked briefly with Kuck and Associates in Illinois, and then joined the United States Geological Survey (USGS), Water Division, as a computer administrator, systems analyst, and trouble shooter, working in California, Texas, and Colorado.

Scott enjoyed a wide variety of music from classical to jazz to blues to classic rock (Traffic, Boston, Supertramp, Santana, Rush, Deep Purple, Electric Light Orchestra, Mannheim Steamroller, Pink Floyd, Frank Zappa, and Weird Al Yankovich, etc.). He had a fantastic sense of humor making puns galore as well as humorous remarks, none of them ever offensive or mean-spirited.

While serving in the military Scott began running for fitness and recreation. He became much more passionate about running around 2000, when he joined the Colorado Masters Running Association (CMRA) and the Rocky Mountain Road Runners (RMRR). Scott was incredibly active in supporting CMRA. He ran the website for 20+ years, served as race director, always helped mark the courses, and served on the Board. He was always early, and always had a smile on his face.

He is preceded in death by his mother Betty Ruth Long, his father Hugh Bruce McFarlane, and his brother Robert Bruce McFarlane.

Scott is survived by his wife, Terry Gibson, daughters, Christine Jacobsen and Jennifer McFarlane (Troy Miller), and grandchildren, William Jacobsen, Graham Jacobsen, Lillian Miller, Carter Miller, and Bailey Miller, his sister, Jean DeJarnatt (John), niece Bethany and nephew Patrick, and his brother, Glenn McFarlane (Carole), niece Bonnie Ohara (Aaron)(grandnieces and nephews) and nephew Robert (Amber).

A military honors service will be held on Friday, August 2, 2024, 3:00 PM

at Fort Logan National Cemetery

3698 S. Sheridan Blvd. Denver, CO 80235

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, August 3, 2024,

8:00 AM for a memorial walk/run and

9:00 AM for a sharing of memories

at the Platte River Bar and Grill

5995 S Santa Fe Dr, Littleton, CO 80120

Thank you to Scott’s family, friends, and coworkers for their kindness, love, and support during this time, for seeing and knowing Scott in so many wonderful ways, and for interacting and connecting with Scott to make his life so much fuller and richer.