Deborah Ann McDonald

June 11, 1956 – August 1, 2018

Wife, Mother, Sister and Grandma

Deborah Ann Fenton McDonald lived her life in the words of one of her favorite songs, "I Hope You Dance". She danced in the moonlight, she danced with her kids, she danced when no one else was dancing, she danced with her eternal companion, and she danced until she couldn't dance anymore. On a peaceful summer evening, our beautiful and kind wife, mother, sister and grandma was received into the arms of our loving Savior and she joined those she dearly loved who had crossed that path already.

She entered the dance on June 11, 1956 with a full dance card of life, to Robert Edward and Suzanne Rachel Fenton, and a one year old Big Brother, Michael Thomas, in Northridge California.

They lived in Canoga Park California in the dream neighborhood of the 1950's, and then they moved to Chatsworth in 1965 and a year later a little sister, Angela Sue, came into her life and from that point forward the only thing she ever wanted to do and be was a wife and a mom.

She laughed and talked like she danced.....incessantly and no holds barred; with a love of life and learning that never quieted, even in the tougher times. Her mom would say, "I will give you a quarter if you will be quiet for 15 min"..... NOT ONCE IN HER LIFE DID SHE EARN THAT QUARTER!!! She asked the questions everyone else was too embarrassed to ask. She played with the kid no one else would play with. She was an outstanding student and definitely every teachers pet. She loved school and her friends.....and she always loved God and the gospel.

She attended Nevada Avenue and Chatsworth Park elementary school, Ernest Lawrence Jr. High and graduated from Chatsworth High in 1974. She was in drill team and a national honor society student with a 3.8 GPA and served and wreaked havoc in her church youth group and leadership callings. She attended BYU from 1974 – 1977, majored in Child and Family Development and took 2 years of Chinese (all A's). She could have been anything she wanted, but her love of children always drove her to jobs of that included the age group she loved the most, babies to 6 yrs old. She was a pre-school teacher, a teacher’s aid for special needs kids and always the room mom for all her kids.

Around 1979, she moved back to Southern California to the Anaheim-Buena Park area, and finally with the "angels" in the background, she met the love of her life and the man that would give her the life she wished for in her princess-happily-ever-after dreams ....and that is what he called her....his "princess". And him..."Her Deputy". Myron James McDonald (Mac) married his sweetheart on February 26, 1983, in the Los Angeles LDS Temple.

He brought with him Debbie's first son, 9 yr old Michael, to start their family. They quickly outgrew their one bedroom apartment with 2 more children, Joel Ryan in Nov of 1983 and Brandie Lynn in August of 1985. Close to Christmas in that same year they moved to Palmdale where they soon completed their family with Kara Marie in May 1989 and Kyle James in Nov 1993. They wrapped it up after that, called the dance floor full, and went about raising 5 beautiful kids.

Deb loved big and lived big; she played her music loud, and no matter what, always had time for her friends and the beach! . . . .Oh . . . . The beach. The place she always found true peace and calm. The annual beach trip to Faria was envied by all.

She impacted everyone she met with her friendly nature and never-ending ability to just love unconditionally and sit with someone as they cried or yelled or cursed or laughed at life, and then at the end she would say "Hey, why don't we go to El Toreo and then go to a dollar movie." and off they would go to celebrate and forget about life for just a few hours in the companionship of the greatest friend anyone could ever have. She danced and talked with all who entered into her "space", and she never apologized for being friendly or nice as she knew that her Savior would have her do the work he sent us all to do, "Feed my Sheep." She fed us all, and then added a Diet Cherry Coke to the mix, and we are all better for her life, and her love and her good heart.

She is survived by her husband Mac, her brother Mike Fenton and sister Angie Fenton. All 5 children and 3 precious grandchildren: Michael, Joel (Claudia), and Cade, Brandie (James) and Gracie and Jace, Kara and Kyle (Brooke).

Funeral Services will be on Saturday August 11th at the LDS Chapel 39536 23rd St. West and Rancho Vista Blvd. The viewing will start at 8:30 am followed by the service at 10am. There is no gravesite service in California. She will be buried in Alpine, Utah next to her mom on Tuesday August 14th.