James P. "Gym" McFarland, Ph.D., 66, of Branchton Road, Slippery Rock, died at 12:12 p.m. Sunday at his home after a yearlong battle with brain cancer.

Born Aug. 10, 1939, he was the son of the late Mary Catherine Montague McFarland and Thomas James McFarland.

He received his bachelor's and master's of arts degrees from Adams State College, Alamosa, Colo., and his doctorate of education degree from the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa.

McFarland taught at the secondary level at St. Basil's High School in Pittsburgh, Shaler Junior High School in Shaler and the John Harris High School in Harrisburg.

In 1974, he accepted a position in the parks, recreation and environmental education department at Slippery Rock University. In addition to teaching, he was the men's tennis coach for 22 years and the women's tennis coach for eight years. He also served as the intramural director for 17 years.

He was the NAIA District 18 Tennis Coach of the Year in 1977 and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Tennis Coach of the Year in 1987 and 1995.

He retired from SRU January 2001 and was inducted into the Slippery Rock University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.

His interests were playing bridge and pinochle, golfing, singing, horse racing and making pizza for his family and friends.

He was a member of St. Peter Parish and a former cantor at St. Peter Roman Catholic Church.

Surviving are his wife, Janie Marie Lalli McFarland, whom he married Feb. 4, 1967; a daughter, Kelly Lynn McFarland of Gainesville, Fla.; two sisters, Mary Alice Nania and her husband, Frank, of Monroeville and Eileen McFarland of Kinsale, Ireland; and a sister-in-law, Mrs. Joan McFarland of Davidsonville, Md.

He was preceded in death by an infant son; and a brother, Thomas J. McFarland.

<B>MCFARLAND </B>— Friends of James P. "Gym" McFarland, who died Sunday, July 23, 2006, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the <B>Smith Funeral Home</B>, 421 New Castle St., Slippery Rock. AMass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Forestville, with the Rev. James Armstrong officiating. Private burial will be held at the Hershey Cemetery, Hershey, at the convenience of the family.The rosary will be recited at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the church.Memorial contributions may be made to the Coach Gym McFarland Tennis Scholarship, c/o Slippery Rock University Advancement Office, Slippery Rock, PA 16057; or the Hospice Office of the Butler VNA, 154 Hindman Road, Butler 16001.