Jim MacFarlane, 72, went home to be with the Lord Feb. 14, 2014.

He died of natural causes on vacation in Palm Desert with his wife of 50 years, Sue, and his son, Stuart, by his side.

A celebration of his life will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 8, at the Bainbridge High School commons, Bainbridge Island. A reception will follow at Wing Point Golf & Country Club, 811 Cherry Ave.

Jim was born in Portland, Ore. on July 4, 1941 to Douglas and Margaret MacFarlane.

He was raised with his older sister, Marion, and younger brother, Don, embracing the beauty of the Pacific Northwest and achieving the honor of Eagle Scout. He attended Seattle’s Lincoln High School and the University of Washington, graduating from dental school in 1967.

In 1968 he served as a dental officer in the U.S. Army in New Jersey and at the 12th Evacuation Hospital in Vietnam, returning to the island in 1969 to fulfill his dream of practicing dentistry and raising his family.

Jim’s life was defined by his love of family and friends, travel, sports and nature. One of his favorite early memories was winning the city championship as a varsity member of the Lincoln High School basketball team. He also rowed for the Green Lake and University of Washington crews and was an avid Husky and Seahawk football fan. Jim met Sue Gearhart through the fraternity and sorority system where Jim was elected president of Alpha Delta Phi house. They were married July 31, 1964. His fraternity brothers remain family even to this day, returning to the island every Fourth of July to celebrate Jim’s birthday. His 50th birthday was particularly memorable as the island honored him in the annual parade as their “Hometown Hero.”

Many knew and loved Jim through the exceptional care and dedication he gave to his profession as a dentist. He belonged to the American Dental Association and Washington State Dental Association, and was president of the Kitsap County Dental Society. He was also a founding member of the Northwest Academy of Dental Science. He contributed extensively to the community through dental services and mentorship, as well as participating in various other organizations.

Jim and Sue’s retirement was spent fulfilling lifelong dreams that included international travel, missionary trips to Africa, summers at Priest Lake, Idaho, winters in Kauai and Palm Desert. He shared life with their grandchildren skiing, hiking, fishing, golfing, camping and teaching them about God through the natural world he so loved. He enjoyed playing golf at Wing Point Golf & Country Club with the “Golf Buddies”. However, there was no place more sacred to him than the family home he built with Sue on Puget Sound, where they created a lifetime of memories with family and friends.

Jim is survived by his wife Sue; son Stuart MacFarlane (Kathleen); daughter Katie Pearson (Kevin); daughter Darcy Wagner (Arnie); and six grandchildren – Key, 14, Anna, 13, Layton, 12, Taylor, 12, Tess, 11, and Camden, 10 – whom he adored and gave so much of his creative and energetic spirit and deep love. He is also survived by brother Don (Mary, son Kevin) MacFarlane; nieces Sharon Carlson, Joanne Huffman and family; and nephew Steve Carlson and family, all of Fairbanks, Alaska.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Jim and Sue’s favorite charitable organizations: Women of Hope International (Sierra Leone):

www.womenofhopeinternational.org; Bainbridge Island Land Trust: www.bi-landtrust.org. Both accept credit cards or PayPal.