Cleta McDonald

Cleta Catherine McDonald, age 89, of Garnett, Kansas, passed away on Wednesday, January 18, 2017, at Residential Living Center, Garnett. She was born April 5, 1927, in Scipio, Kansas, the daughter of Jacob and Oda (Schneider) Strobel. Cleta graduated from Richmond High School with the Class of 1945. After graduation, she worked at Southwestern Bell in Ottawa as an operator. Cleta married James E. McDonald on November 15, 1947 at Scipio, Kansas. This union was blessed with two children. She worked as a switchboard operator at United Telephone Company in the Carter Building for many years until they changed to rotary dialing. In 1955, Jim opened McDonald's Auto Parts with his uncle Dave McDonald. After Dave's death, Cleta took over the bookkeeping responsibilities until 1994. Cleta drove the school bus in the late 1960's. She worked as a lunch lady at Longfellow and Irving Schools for over 25 years. Her greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. When the grandchildren were younger, she enjoyed camping and water skiing at the lake. Cleta loved gardening, taking care of her flowerbeds, quilting and sewing, bowling, playing cards and cooking. She was famous for her chocolate sheet cake. Cleta and Jim made many friends traveling and square dancing. She was a member of the Holy Angels Catholic Church and the Altar Society, and the V.F.W. Post #6397 Women's Auxiliary. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jim McDonald on March 7, 2007; and one sister, Marilyn McMillen. She is survived by her daughter, Susan Stanton and husband Dave, her son, Mike McDonald and wife Marilyn, all of Garnett; three granddaughters, Sara Herzet and husband Jared of Shawnee, Kansas, Katie Stilwell and husband John of Fairway, Kansas; Carrie Stanton and David Head of Belton, Missouri, one grandson, Tony Stanton and wife Kaylene of Wellsville, Kansas; five great grandsons, Will Stanton, Hudson Stanton, Hank Stanton, Teddy Stilwell, and Matthew Herzet; one great granddaughter, Lucy Stilwell; one brother, Marvin "Bus" Strobel of Girard, Kansas. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, January 24, 2017, at Holy Angels Catholic Church, burial following in the Garnett Cemetery. The family will greet friends following a rosary at 6:00 p.m. on Monday evening at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Angels Catholic Church or St. Rose School. You may send your condolences to the family at www.feuerbornfuneral.com .