Kathleen McDonnell

Kathleen Johnson McDonnell, 83, passed away in Dallas, Texas in the presence of her loving family on Sunday, August 22nd, 2010. She was born on January 18th, 1927 in Elk City, Oklahoma to the late Mr. and Mrs. S.W. Johnson. Kay was the salutatorian of the 1944 class of Merritt High School.

From there she went on to a distinguished academic career at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. While at Hardin-Simmons she was a member of Alpha Psi Omega, Alpha Phi, the Spanish Club and the University Players Club. She served as social chair of the Junior Class and on the Student Council. She was elected “Who’s Who on Campus” and “Sweetheart” of the Hardin Simmons Cowboy Band in 1948. After graduating in 1948 with dual degrees in Speech and English, Kay pursued her Masters in Speech at Hardin-Simmons.

Kay married Thad McDonnell on August 18, 1950 in Abilene, Texas. After residing in Mart, West, and Cuero she moved to Levelland in 1961. While in Levelland, she was a wife, mother and grandmother and a very active member of the First United Methodist Church of Levelland, Texas. She served the church as a member of the Administrative Board, the chairman of the Pastor Parish Relations Committee, on the Children’s Ministry Committee, the president of the United Methodist Women, and was actively involved in the Education and Missions Board of the church. She was a forty plus year member of the Las Fidelas Study Club, serving as president, secretary among holding numerous other offices. A lifelong football fan, Kay was an avid supporter of the University of Oklahoma and Texas Tech University.

She is survived by her husband of over sixty years, Thad McDonnell. She is also survived by her son Tom McDonnell and his wife Kayla Gaskins McDonnell of San Antonio, and their son Thomas McDonnell of Fort Worth and daughter Katherine Anne McDonnell of Austin, her daughter Nancy McDonnell Harlin and her husband Bob Harlin of Dallas, and granddaughter Anne Rose of Villanova, Pennsylvania and grandson of Stephen Rose of Nashville, Tennessee. She is also survived by her youngest son Don McDonnell of Dallas, Texas. Kay was the second oldest of five children that include sisters Floy Johnson of Austin, Texas, Glenna Pickett and her husband Rod of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, and her brother Seth Johnson and his wife Ruth of Lawton, Oklahoma. She was preceded in death by her sister Beth Johnson Martin of Silver City, New Mexico.

The funeral celebrating the life of Kathleen Johnson McDonnell will be held on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at 11:00am at the First United Methodist Church located at 1011 Houston Street, Levelland, Texas 79336. Burial will follow in City of Levelland Cemetery under direction of George Price Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at the funeral home at 1400 Ave. J, Levelland, Texas 79336 on Friday, August 27th 2010 from 6:00 to 8:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the United Methodist Women in care of the First United Methodist Church located at 1011 Houston Street, Levelland, Texas 79336 in the memory of Kay McDonnell.