Patricia Marie (Jones) McDonald

Patricia Marie Jones McDonald, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away peacefully in her Houston home on Friday, the 19th of June 2026. She was born in Texarkana, Texas, on Saturday, the 21st of February 1942, to Byron Patrick Jones and Hattie Marie Wood Jones. Patricia was the eldest of three siblings, and the only one born on the Texas side of the Arkansas border. Born while her father was deployed as a soldier in France during World War II, some of her fondest memories were from her early years living on her grandparents’ pecan farm on the Red River outside of Texarkana. Known as the “Wood Farm,” the fertile land produced 3 varieties of pecan, produce, and milk, which shipped directly from the farm’s train depot. Patricia fondly recalled eating warm tomatoes right off the vine, as well as her grandmother’s daily bread baking.

After the war, the family moved to Muskogee, Oklahoma, and later settled in Garland, Texas, outside of Dallas. Patricia and her sister, Peggy, were both known for their beauty and sweetness, as well as for their beautiful clothes, all designed and made by their mother. Patricia graduated from Garland High School in 1960, and started college at the University of North Texas, later transferring to Stephen F. Austin State University, where she joined the Chi Omega Sorority. She was elected a SFA Campus Beauty while earning her degree in childhood education in 1963, graduating a year early. After graduation, Patricia took an elementary school teaching job in Houston, teaching 5th grade in Houston ISD and at Spring Branch ISD’s Frostwood Elementary, for eight years.

During this time, Patricia was blessed by the birth of her two beautiful girls, Melissa Marie, born in 1968, and Amanda Patricia, born in 1970. Her two girls have always been the center of her life and having them close by as they raised children of their own was a great blessing to them all.

In 2006, Patricia met the love of her life, John E. McDonald, Sr., with whom she shared twenty years of happiness. In their years together, they spent wonderful times golfing, traveling, and socializing. Patricia was active in the River Oaks Women’s Association and the Magic Circle Republican Women’s Club. She was a member The Church of St. John the Divine for over fifty years, where she served in the Flower Guild. A lifelong lover of beauty, Patricia earned an interior design degree later in life at the Art Institute of Houston. She created warm and inviting homes for her many clients over the years. Along the way, she also became an expert mahjong player, always looking stunning as she won many games. Throughout her life, Patricia’s beauty, kindness, humor, and lighthearted disposition lit up every room. Adored by her friends and family, she was affectionately called “Momsy” and “Gigi” by her beloved grandchildren, to whom she was ever-present, devoted, loving, and fun.

Through her last years, Patricia fought cancer with grit, grace, and courage, never losing her sense of humor or her overflowing love for her husband and family. We want to thank all her wonderful caregivers who loved her dearly, especially Vanessa Tax, Jessica Garcia, and Victoire Morrison.

Patricia is predeceased by her best friend and sister Margaret “Peggy” Valjean Hatfield Stone, her sister-in-law Christine Brooks Jones, and her parents Byron Patrick Jones and Hattie Marie Wood Jones.

She is survived by her husband, John Edward McDonald, Sr.; her daughters, Melissa Marie Kepke Grobmyer and her husband Albert Joseph Grobmyer IV of Houston, and Amanda Patricia Kepke Fisher and her husband David Nelson Fisher of Houston; John’s son, Dr. John Edward McDonald, Jr. and his wife Dr. Halliday Craige McDonald of Austin; her seven grandchildren, Olivia Marie Grobmyer, Elizabeth Wright Fisher, Albert Joseph “Cinco” Grobmyer V, Vivian Margaret Fisher, Greer Dorothy McDonald, Weston Branch McDonald and Lyle Halliday McDonald; her brother, Cary Dennis Jones of Dallas; and her nieces, Jennifer Marie Hatfield of Austin, Margaret Hatfield Totz and her husband Dr. Kenneth Alan Totz of Houston, Anne Marie Jones of Dallas, and Abigail Jones of Los Angeles.

A memorial service is to be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Monday, the 29th of June, at The Church of St. John the Divine, 2450 River Oaks Boulevard in Houston.

Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held in nearby Sumners Hall.

Prior to the service, the family will have gathered for a private interment at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston.

In lieu of customary remembrances, donations may be made to University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Head and Neck Surgery below by accessing the link under 'Donations' or at https://www.mdanderson.org/donors-volunteers/donate/honor-loved-ones.html or to a charity of your choice.

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