Funeral Service for Patricia “Patsy” Pearl McDonald, 76 of Poteau, Oklahoma will be at 3:00 PM on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at Evans Chapel of Memories in Poteau, Oklahoma with Rick Snyder, and Phil McGehee officiating. Services are under the direction of Evans & Miller Funeral Home of Poteau, Oklahoma.
Patsy was born on February 14, 1947 in Atoka, Oklahoma and passed away in her home on June 21, 2023. During those seventy-six years of her life, she was blessing to all who knew her, a selfless servant.
She and Cliff were married in 1968, they were soon off to the wilderness of Montana for the summer. They lived and worked on a 90 ft. lookout tower in a 10×10 space. There was no electricity and no running water and they rarely saw another human. While many young women would have resisted the primitive, isolated conditions she recounted the memories with great fondness and no complaint.
She taught school for a while, but stopped teaching to devote her time and energy to her children. Communicating to each of her children, and in time, her grandchildren, and to Cliff how much they were loved was the driving force of her life. And she did it in countless ways. She prepared them delicious meals, often from food they raised in the garden and with French cuisine skills she acquired during another adventure with Cliff. She encouraged their strengths, taught them practical skills, never stopped praying for them and modeled self-less Christ-like character on a daily basis. The needs of her family and others were always put before her own.
Her heart of serving others wasn’t limited to her immediate family. She loved her extended family and friends and served them in addition to listening, and praying for them and offering words of wisdom, optimism and encouragement.
She was a life-long learner, and observer and often witty commentator on human nature. She found joy in simple pleasures like colors of the sunset, digging in the dirt in the springtime, reading a good book and discovering a new wildflower.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Glen and Lois (Stephens) Jones.
She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Cliff McDonald; son, Russell McDonald of Poteau; Daughters, Lori Modlin of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Amy Morris of Poteau. She is also survived by 5 grandchildren; Christen Brand, Justus Brown, Keaton Mann, Madox Modlin, and Koda Grass; and sister, Glynna Sanders of Shawnee, Oklahoma. She will be missed dearly.
Visitation will be Wednesday, June 28, 2023 from 2:00-3:00 PM.
Patsy Pearl requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to
Oklahoma Native Plant Society
PO BOX 14274
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74159
Or through the donations link at oknativeplants.org and put “In Memory of Patricia McDonald” on the check if mailing or in the comments section online.
You may leave an online message at www.evansandmillerfuneralhome.com.
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