Alice D. McFarlen's Obituary
Alice Dickinson McFarlen, age 93, of Dallas, Texas, born September 4, 1926 in Birmingham, Alabama to Charles Richard Dickinson and Emma Estelle Hayes left this life to begin a new one on November 26, 2019. She married James Marshall (Jim) McFarlen in 1965, creating a blended family of five children and, eventually, sixteen grandchildren and twenty-three great-grandchildren. Alice was an awesome mother and grandmother. Her belief in social justice, and her compassion for single mothers and the under-served, led to her long career in social work. She was a writer, poet, astrologer, and business owner She loved films, books, music and singing in the choir. She traveled through six continents with her husband, Jim, and especially loved the British Isles, Celtic folklore and King Arthur. Alice was the founder and owner of The Constellation Bookstore in Dallas, where she shared her passion for spirituality in all it’s diverse expressions. She is the author of The Calico Angel, a children’s book addressing racial diversity and inclusion.Alice attended Randolph Macon Woman’s College in Virginia, Howard University in Birmingham, Alabama, and Birmingham Southern College, where she graduated with a B.A. in English Literature. She received a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Texas in Austin. Alice served professionally at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Dallas, on the faculty at Southwestern Medical School, as a high school counselor in Chicago, field instructor for the School of Social Work at the University of Illinois, and as Director of the Social Work Department in hematology at Children’s Medical Center Dallas, where she counseled families and children with leukemia and cancer. She was a member of the National Association of Social Workers and the American Association of Marriage and Family Counselors.Alice was preceded in death by her husband, James M. McFarlen, her son, Scott Causey, her brother, Charles Dickinson, and sister-in-law, Leslie Dickinson. She is survived by her daughter, Diane Causey Spear and husband, Jeff of Dallas, Texas and children, Katie Chandler and Chuck Cummings; son, Mark Causey and wife, Kelly, of Lake Havasu, Arizona and children, Jeff, Jacob, Jordan and Savannah; Scott’s wife, Cindy Causey, and children Erin and Sarah Causey, Adam Mitchell, Molly Wagener and Traci Mitchell; stepson, John McFarlen and wife, Billie, of Abilene, Texas and children Melissa Boisvert, Chris McFarlen and Doug McFarlen; stepson, Mike McFarlen and wife, Kathy, of Arlington, Texas and daughters Krystal Murphy, and Christine Jones. Also, by her beloved nieces, Elizabeth Hartley, Virginia Wolsifer, Sarah Dickinson, Amanda Dickinson, and Karen Pekowitz.A memorial service will be held at the Wildwood Chapel in Restland Cemetery on Saturday, January 25th at 12:30 pm, followed by a celebration reception at the Restland event center.In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Save the Children:https://support.savethechildren.org/site/Donation2?df_id=1660&1660.donation=form1
What’s your fondest memory of Alice?
What’s a lesson you learned from Alice?
Share a story where Alice's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Alice you’ll never forget.
How did Alice make you smile?