Shela Ann McFarlin was born March 4, 1947, in Burns, Tennessee to Illa Mai Deal and Nelve Puckett McFarlin II.  She grew up in Vine Grove, Kentucky where her father was stationed at Fort Knox. After graduating from North Harden High School in 1965, she attended Elizabeth Town Community College for two years and then transferred to the University of Kentucky, where she received her degree in Anthropology. From 1968 to 1972, she attended Michigan State University. During that time, she worked on archaeological excavations in the Southwest US, Israel, and Uganda, and received her Master’sDegree in Anthropology in 1972. From 1972 to 1974 Shela taught at California State University at Fresno.

In January 1981, Shela accepted a position as an archaeologist with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Ely, Nevada. It was in Ely that she met David Redmond and they were married on December 28, 1985. Also in 1985, Shela accepted the position of Director of the Anasazi Heritage Center (now the Canyons of the Ancients) in Dolores, Colorado. She oversaw the completion and opening of museum exhibits as well as curation facilities for the Dolores Project archaeological collections.

In 1992, Shela moved to Phoenix, Arizona to help develop and direct a Hohokam Heritage Center. When funding for the center was eliminated, Shela joined the Phoenix District Management Team, coordinating planning and use of four million acres of Central Arizona. She also worked on a state-wide land exchange team.

Shela’s next assignment took her to Tucson, Arizona in 2003 as the Tucson Field Office Manager. After several years, due to her extensive contacts, Shela was asked to represent the BLM on the National Border Team that addressed issues along the Mexican and US border. She passionately worked 30 years for the federal government as an archaeologist, museum director, and BLM manager. She retired from the BLM at the end of 2008. She maintained these friendships in retirement and built on her knowledge of grants, programs, laws, policies, and politics to further non-profit work in conservation of natural and cultural history in this place she loved.

Shela co-founded the Cienega Watershed Partnership in her retirement and dedicated over 15 years to it with two rounds as president and many more on the board overseeing treasury and grants. She was central to its success through her vision, energy, organization, and love for the watershed. A master of collaboration and mentorship, she made invaluable impacts with her extensive knowledge of the watershed’s biological, cultural, and recreational aspects. Her extensive network of experts and community leaders showed how she valued everyone’s unique contributions.

In retirement, Shela also traveled to Egypt, Ireland, Great Britain, Scotland, and Iceland.

Shela continued unstopped the last couple of years as she went through treatments for multiple myeloma. She passed away on December 28, 2025, from the side effects of the treatment she was receiving. Shela is survived by her husband David Redmond, brother Nelve McFarlin; sister-in-law, Linda McFarlin, nieces Jessica and Allison; great-niece, Ella, and great-nephew Clayton.

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