Evelyn Shea McDonald

Evelyn Shea McDonald of Fayetteville, Ark., left peacefully to be at home with her Lord on Wednesday, February 27, 2019. Evelyn was born in Natchez, Miss. on May 10, 1928. She is survived by her children, David McDonald and his wife, Jeanie, Dannie McDonald, Jill Garner, and her husband, Nick, Frances Mayo, and her husband, Dave Yeager; grandchildren, Brian McDonald, and his wife, Christie, Allison Brewer, and her husband, David, Boyce Rigby, Chad Rigby, and his wife, Elise, Megan James, and her husband, Elliott; great-grandchildren, Kaitlin, Abigail, and Megan McDonald, Andrew and Matthew Brewer, Elliott and Addison Rigby, Lola and Mabrey James, and Jason Hastings; beloved niece, Alice Thorpe and her daughter, Mason. Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Lamar McDonald and daughter, Debbie Hastings. After moving to Vicksburg, Miss. in 1946, Evelyn held a variety of employments, which included Saul Fried Furniture and the Help You Self Cafe', where she met and later married Lamar McDonald. She faithfully served First Baptist Church, including the formation of the first Sunday School class for adults with limited abilities. She became the cafeteria manager of Warren Central High School, a position she dearly loved for the next twenty years. After retirement, she continued in the food business purchasing Knapp's Bakery, soon to be followed by the Biscuit Company that quickly became a favorite restaurant for locals and tourists. In 1988, she moved to Fayetteville, Ark., where she joined the Fayetteville City Hospital Auxiliary, spending many years working in The Attic thrift shop. Always the faithful servant, she was an active member of First Baptist Church. She was honored in 2001 to represent Arkansas in the Ms. Senior America pageant. At the tender age of 72, Evelyn became the Kappa Delta Sorority House Mom, the favorite of all her occupations. Her "girls" affectionately called her Mom MeMe and encouraged her legendary high kicks. They loved her so much, they wouldn't let her go until the age of 85, at which time she fully retired and moved to Butterfield Trail Village. If you were ever blessed by her presence, you were blessed from above. Possessing a heart of tears for her fellow man, Evelyn lived her life to serve, not to be served. She embraced Psalm 16:8, "I have set the LORD always before me, because He is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken." Visitation will be held at First Baptist Church, Fayetteville on Friday, March 1 at 3 p.m. followed by a memorial service at 4 p.m. Interment will take place at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Vicksburg, Miss. on Monday, March 4 at 10 a.m. Family and friends are welcome, and encouraged, to attend both services. The family offers their deepest gratitude for the extraordinary care given to their mother during her time in residence at Butterfield Trail Village. The nurses, aides, security personnel, and staff loved her well, as she had loved them. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Employee Care Fund at Butterfield Trail Village, Fayetteville, Ark. To sign the online guest book please visit www.nelsonberna.com.