Paula McRay McDonald

Funeral Services will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 29, 2014 at Collier-Butler Chapel for Paula McRay McDonald, 68 of Gadsden who died, Wednesday, August 27, 2014. Rev. Bill Abbott will officiate. Burial will be at Crestwood Cemetery. Collier-Butler Funeral and Cremation Services is directing.

Paula was a 1964 graduate of Gadsden High School and held degrees from Jacksonville State University. She was a teacher for 32 years in the Etowah County School System. She taught at West End Elementary, Sardis High School, and Southside High School. She was a member of The National Education Association, The Alabama Education Association, and The Etowah Education Association. She was a former member of Paden Baptist Church and a current member of James Memorial Baptist Church. She was involved in Altrusa of Gadsden and a member of The Eastern Star. Paula was an award winning quilter, avid bridge player, and was very involved with her family genealogy. She dearly loved her grandchildren and spent as much time with them as possible.

She was preceded in death by her loving grandparents who raised her, Grady “Sunshine” Pollard and Cleo Harris Pollard; father, James Paul McRay; and mother, Selma Pollard McRay.

Paula is survived by her husband of 46 years, Jim McDonald; daughter Marie McDonald McFarland; son, Phillip B. (Molly McGinnis) McDonald; grandchildren, Elizabeth Anne McFarland, Alex Daniel McFarland, Ellen E. McDonald, and Drew B. McDonald.

Pallbearers will be Phillip McDonald, Alex McFarland, Harold McDonald, Mark McDonald, Mardy McDonald, and Craig Fry.

Honorary pallbearers will be Elizabeth McFarland, Ellen McDonald, and Drew McDonald.

Special thanks to Dr. Jason Ayres, Hematology-Oncology Department at UAB, and the nurses and staff of Gadsden Regional Medical Center ER Department.

The family will accept friends from 9:30-11:00 Friday prior to the service.

Online condolences may be made at www.collier-butler.com.