Shirley Louise McDonald

SHIRLEY LOUISE MCDONALD 81 Years Old Wife, Mother, Grandmother & Great Grandmother Shirley Louise McDonald, 81, of Las Vegas, Nevada, passed in her sleep on July 2, 2017 at 1:17 a.m. at In-Home Hospice (Southwest Medical Hospice) at her home in Summerlin, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Born October 13, 1935 in Houston, Texas, she is predeceased by her parents, John and Bamma Bell, and sister Mary Reece, all of Houston, Texas, as well as, her son Veteran Kenneth McDonald, of Las Vegas, Nevada. Her education included attendance of college at Texas Southern University. She retired from the Clark County School District, and worked at the El Paso Independent School District. Her professional memberships were the Texas State Teachers' Association & National Educators' Association. Survivors include her 22-year Veteran husband, Thomas McDonald, Jr., and children Michael Lynn McDonald, Anthony Keith McDonald, Cheryl Ann Tomczuk, Steven Dale McDonald, and Kimberly Joi McDonald. Grandchildren are Kendall Ellis McDonald, Jerold Darnell McDonald, Adam Boggs McDonald, and Rachel Olivia McDonald. The great grandchild is Amelia McDonald. Shirley was an exceptional mother, grandmother, great grandmother, wife, sister, pianist, faithful friend, and teacher. She was the very best mother on the planet. She was kind, smart, nurturing, encouraging, and very proud of her children, grandchildren and great grandchild. She was also fiercely protective of her children and family. Along with her husband, Thomas, they instilled traditional values and the importance of family in their children. She was also very easy to talk to, in that she was not only Thomas' buddy and best friend, but also a buddy and best friend to her children. Regarding her character, she was a very strong lady who sacrificed her life, including her goals of being a classical pianist, pouring all of her love, talent and energy into the lives of her children of whom she spoiled. Her family came first. She always told them how much she loved them, and she always made them feel her unconditional love in them, and her belief, as well as, her unwavering support in that they could achieve anything they wanted to achieve in life and their aspirations. Her positivity and encouragement impacted thousands of students during her career. As a very proud military wife she realized and knew the importance of her role at home as well as abroad; she recognized the tremendous sacrifice of her husband Thomas as well as her sons Kenneth and Michael in the Armed Forces. Shirley emphatically loved the Statue of Liberty, what it stands for to our country, and while in flight, seeing the glory of the Statue of Liberty when returning back to the United States. Her notable achievements were: (1) Devoted & successful Military Wife, Mother, Grandmother & Great Grandmother; (2) Married 63 years to Veteran Thomas McDonald; (3) 30 Years as an educator /teacher in El Paso, Texas and Las Vegas, Nevada; and (4) Received a Commemorative Plaque for her 20-year service as a teacher at Jefferson Alternative High School in the Clark County School District. A Memorial Service and Celebration are being held on July 20, 2017 at the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City located at 1900 Veterans Memorial Drive, Boulder City, Nevada 89005. Chaplin Grace DePass-Thompson will officiate the memorial celebration. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and state that your donation is in honor of Shirley Louise McDonald. See https://my.clevelandclinic.org. Friends and relatives may visit online http://www.affordablecbs.com to send private condolences or a sympathy card to the family. Funeral arrangements were made by Affordable Cremation and Burial Service.

Shirley Louise McDonald

October 13, 1935 - July 2, 2017