Martha Genell Key McDonald was born in the back of a railroad depot country store in Davis Switch, Texas on February 21, 1928, the first daughter of Joe and Virgie Key. Joe Key was a cotton ginner, moving from place to place in south Texas building cotton gins, taking his family with him. They lived in such places as Charlotte, Mullin, Goldthwaite, and other such thriving centers for agriculture.
During WWII, she served as a relief telegraph operator for the railroad in Central Texas, south of Abilene. She met the love of her life while working in Ballinger, Texas when a mutual friend sent a box of cockroaches by rail for Frank Byron McDonald that he had to pick up and sign for at the rail station. After the war, she graduated from Southwest Texas State Teachers College with a teaching degree in Home Economics. Her first teaching job was in Ysleta, Texas near El Paso, Texas. A couple of years later, she and Bryon were married in Anthony, New Mexico the day after Christmas in 1952. They lived a short while in Santa Anna, Texas starting their family. In 1956, they moved to Lovington, New Mexico, where she taught school and Frank worked in the oilfield. They lived in Lovington until Frank’s death in 2012. Martha moved to Mount Vernon, Ohio in October of 2013. She passed away early Saturday morning, March 7, 2020, surrounded by her family.
Martha was the last member of her generation on both sides of her family, being preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Virgie Key, her older brother, Rupert Key (Francis), her younger sisters, Mary Key Windham (Norman) and Pat Key Cox (Ted); her husband of 59 years, Frank Byron McDonald; and a daughter-in-law, Renee McDonald.
She is survived by her three sons, Joe Tom McDonald of Rowlett, Texas, Mike McDonald (Shelia) of Buford, Georgia and Kriss McDonald (Felicia) of Mount Vernon; grandchildren, Ty McDonald, Rachel McDonald Hester (Chris), Elise McDonald Kramer (Alex), Krissta McDonald Hadsell (Jeff), Sara McDonald Williamson (Brian) and Jason McDonald (Michelle); great grandchildren, Aubrey and Gavin Hadsell, Janelle, Jake, and Sadie Ann Williamson, Connor, Levi and Addy McDonald, and Elliott and Joy Renee Hester; many loving nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until the time of a funeral service celebrating the life of Martha at 12 p.m. on Monday, March 9, 2020 at the First Church of the Nazarene, 807 Coshocton Ave., Mount Vernon with Rev. Joe Proudfoot and Rev. F.H. Bolerjack officiating.
Martha will be laid to rest beside her husband, Bryon on Friday, March 13, 2020 at 1 p.m. in the Santa Anna Cemetery, Santa Anna with services under the direction of Henderson Funeral Home of Santa Anna.
