Obituary - Zela Mae (Batchelor) McDonald
Zella Mae McDonald
June 22, 1919 - February 3, 2010
Heaven’s great cloud of witnesses took on a more brilliant glow
Wednesday, February 3, 2010 with the entrance of Zella Mae Batchelor
McDonald.
The grand matriarch of McDonald, Johnson, DeVillier and Folk families
passed away peacefully at her Nederland home while talking on the phone with
one of many “favorite” nieces, Karen Sue Walker. Mrs. McDonald had a joyous
90-year mission, spreading the love of her Lord beyond family to hundreds of
friends, Her humor, enthusiasm and compassion were showered on all she met
along the way. Zella Mae was Mother to daughter Kay, Grandmother to
grandchildren Grant and Jennifer and “Granny Mae” to great-granddaughter
Mollie Mae. Grandchildren Craig, Mark and Amanda, and many more blessed by
her steady hand, knew her as “Auntie.”
She cruised the streets of Nederland to the day she passed away, made
countless trips to her earlier home in Kirbyville, cheered shut-ins almost
daily, and earned the title of Auntie-go-Mae as exasperated family tried to
keep track of her whereabouts. Auntie personified “Amazing Grace” as she
traversed the peaks and valleys of life. Born on June 22, 1919, in Call
(Jasper County), she grew up in the sawmill town with three brothers and
three sisters, and married D.A. McDonald in 1940. She followed D.A. to
Wisconsin during his service days, and returned to Kirbyville before moving
to Nederland in 1957. Zella Mae’s radiant spirit touched countless children
in kindergarten classes, as well as fellow teachers, during her long career
at Highland Park Elementary School.
Her extraordinary courage pulled the family through when their first
daughter, Patricia Ann (Jeep) died in a tragic crash on Cardinal Drive at
the age of 33. Fourteen years later, D.A. suffered a stroke, and Zella Mae
again marveled all as she kept a six-year vigil at his bedside. In her
widowed years, Zella Mae and a close circle of friends stayed active in
church outreach projects, and could usually be found laughing and reveling
in a game of cards to top off a busy day. The day before her own passing,
Mrs. McDonald had mourned at the funeral of one of those cherished friends,
Janie Price, 94.
Visitation will be Saturday, February 6, 2010 5:00-8:00 PM at Broussard’s
Funeral Home in Nederland. Funeral services will be held at First Methodist
Church in Nederland at 2:00 PM on Sunday, conducted by Reverend Malcolm
Monroe, pastor, associate Reverend Toney Miller and former pastor, Reverend
Eldon Reed. Burial will be at Oak Bluff Memorial Park.
She had played the organ for worship services at First Methodist for many
years, and delighted nursing home residents and many others with her
cheerful ways.
In addition to D.A. and Jeep, she was predeceased by brothers Buford, R.
B. and Bill Batchelor. Survivors include Kay and her husband, Dr. Mike
Johnson of Greenville, S.C., son-in-law and daughter-in-law Russ and Beth
DeVillier of Nederland, grandsons Craig DeVillier and wife Kristina, Mark
DeVillier and wife Stacey of Nederland, and Dr. Grant Johnson and wife Paige
of Dallas; grand-daughter Jennifer and husband Dr. Jason Folk of Greenville,
S.C. and Amanda McLauchlin of Nederland; great grandchildren Mikala,
Nicholas and Sara DeVillier, Mollie Mae Folk, Alexander Johnson, Andy
Stimits, Amber Wallis, and Leah Johnson; great-great granddaughters Rylie
and Sophia Chesnutt; sisters Lois McKee of Lake Jackson, Dot Walker of
Groves and Lavelle Hogan of Nederland, and many beloved nieces, nephews and
cousins. Pallbearers will be grandsons Craig and Mark DeVillier and Grant
Johnson, son-in-law Jason Folk, great-grandson Nicholas DeVillier, and
nephew Richard Batchelor.
Zella Mae’s entire life reflected her unwavering trust in God the Father,
His son Jesus and the Hoy Spirit. She heard the Word, lived it, and
generously passed in on. In so doing, she gained her place alongside all
faithful witnesses (Hebrew 12:1), long ago ridding herself of every burden
and running with perseverance the race marked out for her. She acknowledged
each day as they day the Lord has made (Psalm 118:24) encouraging all to
rejoice and be glad.
Memorial may be made to First United Methodist Church Nederland, P.O. Box 905, Nederland, Texas 77627.