Lois Jean MacFarlane, age 98, of Southern Pines, NC passed away early Saturday morning, October 28, 2023. Lois Jean grew up in Clayton, New York with a deep appreciation for the Saint Lawrence River. Lois Jean and John C. MacFarlane were supporters of the Antique Boat Museum and the Opera House in Clayton, and they donated their Zenda Farms property to the Thousand Islands Land Trust (TILT) in 1997. As a result of that contribution, the Lois Jean and John MacFarlane Trail was completed in 2011.
Nothing made Lois Jean happier than to live next to the river and watch the sunset from her kitchen window. Her golden retriever “Nugget” would delight in swimming in the river and chasing tennis balls. She loved being able to take her boats out on the water with John and Nugget. Her favorite boat was a replica of an old Hacker-Craft.
Lois Jean was born to Stanley Johnston Hungerford and Genora Mae (Willcox) Hungerford in Clayton, NY and spent her childhood living above Hungerford’s Hardware with her two brothers, Stanley W. “Buddy”, and James M. Hungerford. She graduated from Clayton Central High School and attended the University of Connecticut and Eastman Dental Dispensary. She met Dewey Cunningham from Mena, Arkansas while attending Columbia University and their common love of jazz and swing music created an immediate attraction. They married on January 18, 1946, in Clayton. Lois Jean and Dewey had two children, Joedy G. Baughan (deceased in 2008) and D. Jay Cunningham. Dewey died in 1977 and in 1979, Lois Jean married her high school sweetheart, John MacFarlane (deceased).
Lois Jean is survived by her son, Jay and his family including grandsons Sam Cunningham and his two children and Michael Cunningham. Joedy Baughan’s family includes grandsons Rhett and Todd Baughan and their children. A total of six great-grandchildren from the Cunningham and Baughan families.
A gathering of family and friends will be held at some time in the future in Clayton including burial of her remains at the Clayton Cemetery.
Online condolences may be made at www.bolesfuneral.com
Services entrusted to Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.
