Obituary for Mary McDonald
Graveside funeral services for Mary Jewel McDonald will be held at the Legion Memorial Cemetery in
Newellton on Tuesday, April 11 at 1:30 p.m. with Reverend Larry Foster officiating.
Mary Jewel was born March 5, 1930, in Plain Dealing, La., the first child of William Belfer and Thelma Mae Seward Johnston.
She departed this life peacefully at her home of more than 60 years in Newellton
on April 9, 2023.
She graduated high school in Dry Prong, La., after which she attended Northwestern State University, where she graduated with a degree in English. Mary Jewel moved to Newellton in 1950 to teach English at Newellton High School. She married the love of her life, Walker Burnside “Brother” McDonald on July 25, 1951. They were married for 36 years until his death on September 11, 1987.
To Mary Jewel, the most important duties were that of a wife, mother and grandmother. Past these, her passion was that of an educator. She taught in the Tensas Parish Public School System for 37 years, teaching English at Newellton High School and language arts and history at Routhwood Elementary. After retiring, she returned to the school system to assist students at the Tensas Parish Alternative School.
She was active at both the First Baptist Church and Union Church. When not teaching, she loved playing bridge with her friends, watching college basketball, especially Duke and Coach K, and spending time with her dogs, most notably Hildegard and Max. Above all, she adored being an integral part of the lives of her seven grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, siblings J.P. Johnston and Martha Mae Grisham, son Stephen Thomas “Tommy” McDonald and daughter-in-law, Patricia.
She is survived by her son, William McDonald and wife Sue of Newellton; daughter Sarita von Springer and husband, Mirek, of Plano, Tx.; seven grandchildren, Stephen Thomas “Tommy” McDonald II and wife Mary Katherine of Natchez, Miss; Mary Kate McDonald of Bedfordshire, United Kingdom; Sadie Harris and husband Bill of Fayetteville, Ark.; Walker McDonald II and wife Tori of Newellton; Alexandra
King and husband Jonathan Davis of Houston, Tx.; Gregory McDonald and Jalyn Bruno of Newellton; and Johnston von Springer of Baton Rouge, La.; seven great-grandchildren, Stephen Thomas McDonald III,
Nathan Connor McDonald, “Will” McDonald, Henry McDonald, Anna Barbara McDonald, Clyde Burnside McDonald, and Cru James Harris.
Pallbearers include Tommy McDonald II, Walker McDonald II, Gregory McDonald, Johnston von Springer, Madison Bouanchaud, and Donald McGehee, Jr.
Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Lewellen, Phil Preis, and her remaining nephews, Randy McDonald, John David and Mark Johnston, Travis and Todd Grisham, and J. Roland Bouanchaud.
Mary Jewel’s family expresses deep gratitude to her caretakers, TLC Hospice, especially Amy Cook, aformer student; Tammy Brown, Tenishia Dorsey, and Zarriah Flunder. Additionally, they would like to acknowledge Rhonda Garner, whose unwavering support over the last several years is greatly appreciated.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Mary Jewel’s memory to a Tensas Parish charity of their choosing.
Newellton on Tuesday, April 11 at 1:30 p.m. with Reverend Larry Foster officiating.
Mary Jewel was born March 5, 1930, in Plain Dealing, La., the first child of William Belfer and Thelma Mae Seward Johnston.
She departed this life peacefully at her home of more than 60 years in Newellton
on April 9, 2023.
She graduated high school in Dry Prong, La., after which she attended Northwestern State University, where she graduated with a degree in English. Mary Jewel moved to Newellton in 1950 to teach English at Newellton High School. She married the love of her life, Walker Burnside “Brother” McDonald on July 25, 1951. They were married for 36 years until his death on September 11, 1987.
To Mary Jewel, the most important duties were that of a wife, mother and grandmother. Past these, her passion was that of an educator. She taught in the Tensas Parish Public School System for 37 years, teaching English at Newellton High School and language arts and history at Routhwood Elementary. After retiring, she returned to the school system to assist students at the Tensas Parish Alternative School.
She was active at both the First Baptist Church and Union Church. When not teaching, she loved playing bridge with her friends, watching college basketball, especially Duke and Coach K, and spending time with her dogs, most notably Hildegard and Max. Above all, she adored being an integral part of the lives of her seven grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, siblings J.P. Johnston and Martha Mae Grisham, son Stephen Thomas “Tommy” McDonald and daughter-in-law, Patricia.
She is survived by her son, William McDonald and wife Sue of Newellton; daughter Sarita von Springer and husband, Mirek, of Plano, Tx.; seven grandchildren, Stephen Thomas “Tommy” McDonald II and wife Mary Katherine of Natchez, Miss; Mary Kate McDonald of Bedfordshire, United Kingdom; Sadie Harris and husband Bill of Fayetteville, Ark.; Walker McDonald II and wife Tori of Newellton; Alexandra
King and husband Jonathan Davis of Houston, Tx.; Gregory McDonald and Jalyn Bruno of Newellton; and Johnston von Springer of Baton Rouge, La.; seven great-grandchildren, Stephen Thomas McDonald III,
Nathan Connor McDonald, “Will” McDonald, Henry McDonald, Anna Barbara McDonald, Clyde Burnside McDonald, and Cru James Harris.
Pallbearers include Tommy McDonald II, Walker McDonald II, Gregory McDonald, Johnston von Springer, Madison Bouanchaud, and Donald McGehee, Jr.
Honorary pallbearers will be Mike Lewellen, Phil Preis, and her remaining nephews, Randy McDonald, John David and Mark Johnston, Travis and Todd Grisham, and J. Roland Bouanchaud.
Mary Jewel’s family expresses deep gratitude to her caretakers, TLC Hospice, especially Amy Cook, aformer student; Tammy Brown, Tenishia Dorsey, and Zarriah Flunder. Additionally, they would like to acknowledge Rhonda Garner, whose unwavering support over the last several years is greatly appreciated.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Mary Jewel’s memory to a Tensas Parish charity of their choosing.