Pamela Jo McFarland

Pamela Jo Espinosa, 76, of Mason City, passed away on Saturday, February 24, 2024, at the Heritage Care Center. Pam had been ill for the last several years and was under Hospice care since May 2023. 

Pam was born on November 22, 1947, to Paul (Blackie) Espinosa and Mavis (Holt) Espinosa. Pam graduated from Mason City High School in 1966. She attended Luther College in Decorah graduating in 1970 with three majors in Spanish, Political Science and History. She then received her master’s degree from the University of Iowa and later her law degree from Cal State Fresno. Pam was truly brilliant and so hard working, always achieving 4.0 GPA as she completed each degree. Pam practiced family law in Fresno and taught law classes at Fresno State. In 2018, Pam received a Lawyer of Distinction certification recognizing excellence in family law. 

Pam married Loyd McFarland on August 10, 1980, at the Ahwahnee Lodge in Yosemite National Park. Pam and Loyd would later spend many weekends camping there through the years as it was a favorite destination for them. 

Pam had a love of traveling, especially internationally. She and Loyd traveled to several countries around the world. Pam also took family members on many amazing trips to England, France, Italy Spain, and New York. She was always so kind and generous to her family. 

Pam’s family was of utmost importance to her. She was always excited to come to Mason City twice each year. She would come at Christmas time and again in July for her mother’s birthday. She cherished the time spent catching up with her parents, siblings, and nieces and nephews. 

Pam loved chocolate chip cookies, peanut M&Ms, Cheetos, chips and dip, and Birdsall’s hot fudge sundaes. She was known to eat more than one sundae at a time and always stopped at Birdsall’s upon arrival in Mason City and again before departing. 

Pam was a strong, lovely, independent, compassionate, assertive, vibrant, driven, and joyful person. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her, but especially by her mother, Mavis Espinosa; sisters, Sherry (Gordon) Rundquist and Ann Espinosa; brother, Peter (Kari) Espinosa and many nieces and nephews. Pam was preceded in death by her husband, Loyd; her father, Paul (Blackie) Espinosa; brother, Paul Espinosa and sister, Debbie Espinosa. 

Pam will be celebrated and laid to rest at a graveside service at Memorial Park Cemetery in Mason City at 10:30 AM on Saturday, June 22 with Pastor Dan Gerrietts officiating.