Shirley McDonald Obituary

Shirley McDonald, generous and outgoing resident of the Village At Skyline, died of natural causes on June 15th, 2008. She was born in Cleveland, Ohio and attended Ohio University where she met her husband Jon. The couple soon moved to her beloved Houston, Texas where they remained until 2003. Shirley, a passionate and well-loved teacher of developmentally-disabled children worked for the Houston Independent School Distract until retiring at age 70. During her many years in Houston, she relished spending time at the family beach house near Galveston, frequent family trips to Mexico, trips to California and North Carolina to visit her children and grandchildren, and engaging in her countless hobbies and creative pursuits. A lifelong learner, she was an avid reader and continued acquiring new skills throughout her life. She had the eye of an artist and was talented in as an interior decorator. Until the last part of her life, she was vivacious beyond her years. Her own daughter had trouble keeping up with her! She was an exceptional and loving grandmother. For her granddaughters' frequent visits to Houston, she prepared fun and educational activities and expeditions. In Colorado Springs, she did the same with her adored six year-old Sterling. In 2002, she and Jon celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary in Hawaii with their children and grandchildren. Shirley will be sorely missed by her countless friends in Texas, Colorado, and in other states. She will be especially missed by her husband, Jon; her children Lynn and Drake; her granddaughters, Sophie, Claire, and Sterling; and her brother and sister-in-law Roy and Doris Nester. A memorial service will be held in her honor on Saturday, June 21 in the Skyline Room at the Village at Skyline, 2365 Patriot Heights. All friends are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Shirley's honor, to the Autism Society of America by calling 800-328-8476.