Wanda McDonald

Wanda Lee (Kennedy) McDonald passed away on April 27, 2017 in Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Waco, following a stroke, at the age of 86. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 29, 2017 at Blair-Stubbs Chapel with Rev. Tracy Sims officiating. Interment will follow in the Shiloh Cemetery with Billie Gene "Scooter" McDonald, Terry Lynn McDonald, Terry Don Shivers, Rick Sadler, Dan Collins and Bill Hughes serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be James Shivers, Grady Masters, Holloway Martin and Jerry Lee Kennedy. Visitation with the family will be 5-7 p.m., Friday, at Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home. Wanda Lee was born on November 2, 1930 in Mexia to Johnie Monroe and Callie Slaughter Kennedy. She was a lifelong resident of the Shiloh, Mexia and Groesbeck area, having moved to Sweeny for only a brief time. Wanda was the youngest of six children and said, many times, that she wished every child could have as happy a childhood as she had. Wanda met Cecil McDonald, Jr. in March 1947 at Fort Parker State Park and said it was love at first site. Cecil and Wanda married, later that year, on November 8, 1947 in Shiloh. This was the beginning of a long, loving marriage of devotion; she and Cecil enjoyed doing things together whether it was working or just having a good time. They were truly sweethearts for over 68 years, until Cecil's death in 2016. Wanda was totally devoted to taking care of Cecil, even after her first stroke in 2015. Wanda was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Wanda was always a hard worker, she began working at a young age at her mother and dad's grocery store on the old mill block in Mexia. After she and Cecil married, she worked at a grocery store in Sweeny until they bought a farm and moved to Shiloh. At this time, they would return home with their one and only child, Bobby Dean, born in 1952. She, then, began working at Safeway and later at Dick Scott Ford in Mexia, in addition to working on their farm. In about 1960, they bought what was their first of several laundromats. After selling the laundromats in 1977, they worked on the farm until moving to Groesbeck in 1982. Wanda went to work at the Farmers State Bank and retired in 1997. Wanda was an excellent cook and always wanted her family, and/or guests, to sit down and have a piece of cake or pie with a cup of coffee. She could never sit down or stay still as she always wanted to wait on someone; she did not want anyone waiting on her. Wanda was a strong-willed woman whose motto was, "you might as well laugh about a bad situation as to cry". Wanda loved the Lord and was a member of Central Baptist Church in Thornton. She was very compassionate and usually never forgot a birthday or anniversary. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 68 years, Cecil McDonald, Jr.; four brothers, Finney Kennedy, Vernon Kennedy, Lloyd Kennedy and Johnie Monroe; and sister, Marie Morgan. Wanda is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Bobby and Becky McDonald; two grandchildren, Jeffrey McDonald and Ginger Funk and husband, Brad; four grandchildren, Alyssa, Kimbrey, Emery and Ellis; three sister-in-laws, Patsy Lock of Beaumont, Zarine Strain of Bryan and Audrey Kennedy of Mexia; and a number of nieces and nephews. Wanda's family would like to express their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to these three wonderful ladies, Debra Bell, Shirley Clay and Sharlene Brown, for their compassionate care, companionship and help given during her time of need. Memorials may be made to the Central Baptist Church of Thornton.

Visitation Details

Friday, April 28th, 2017 5:00pm - 7:00pm, Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home

Service Information

Saturday, April 29th, 2017 10:00am, Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home

Interment Details

Shiloh Cemetery