Anita 'Jeanie' Mcdonald

Anita Jean (Reeser) McDonald was born February 19, 1947 to Lloyd and Vivian Reeser in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Holding Gods hand she entered thru the Gates of Heaven following a courageous battle with ALS, September 2, 2016. A celebration service of her life will be held on Thursday, September 8, 2016 at 10 a.m. at the University Heights Baptist Church, Stillwater. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 7, 2016 from 9am to 8pm, with family greeting guest from 6pm to 8pm. Graveside Interment will be at Allen Cemetery, Allen, Oklahoma, approx. 2:30pm following the Stillwater Celebration of her life.
TEACHER: (To instruct, give direction, educate, train and discipline), also defines Jeanie McDonald.
Jeanie was raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma where she attended Star Elementary School, and graduated from Star Spencer High School in 1965. She taught piano while attending Star Spencer. She then became an OSU Cowgirl and graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education.
Jeanie resumed her teaching career at Dewey Elementary School in Oklahoma City in the fall of 1969.
She married James E. McDonald, May 29, 1970 and they moved to Stillwater, Oklahoma until he graduated from Oklahoma State University.
Following Jamess graduation in 1971 they moved back to Oklahoma City where Jeanie again resumed her teaching career at her alma mater Star Elementary teaching in the first grade.
Jeanies faith and love of teaching never overshadowed her love for her family. She took a short break from teaching to become a stay at home mom to Sarah Jane and Jay until both were old enough to start elementary school and that was the beginning of another valued responsibility that she cherished.
Jeanie and James made another move back to Perkins, Oklahoma in 1972 which gave Jeanie the opportunity to continue her teaching in the Perkins-Tryon School district. The first 15 years was at Tryon Elementary where she was recognized as Teacher of the Year during the 1991-1992 school year.
She was transferred to Perkins Elementary when the two schools were consolidated and she continued teaching first grade until her retirement in 2006. Retirement did not mean stop teaching to Jeanie as she continued to return each new school year on Thursdays to Perkins-Tryon Elementary as a volunteer in their Library.
She also became a Docent at Pleasant Valley Elementary, a turn of the century restored one room school house in Stillwater, teaching fourth graders and considered another cherished opportunity for her.
God was always included in Jeanies life starting at Dickson Baptist Church in Spencer, Oklahoma where she was baptized when 10 years old. Her love of God continued with being a member of First Baptist Church Oklahoma City and as a current member of University Heights Baptist Church Stillwater, where she taught 1st grade Sunday school for over Thirty years. She was a founding member of the University Heights Baptist Church hand bell choir and always looked forward to practice and playing for UHBC services and special appearances at downtown Stillwater during the Christmas Holidays.
Jeanie and James moved to a farm south of Stillwater in 1986. She made a point of always having a beautiful flower and vegetable garden each summer. She fed the birds and wild animals and became familiar with and could name most all the breeds she observed at her many feeders outside her kitchen window.
Jeanie was a true and faithful follower of the author Lucy Maud Montgomery and the stories of Anne of Green Gables. Two of Jeanies favorite trips with James were to Prince Edward Island and the home of Anne of Green Gables. She was a collector of probably most every book and video related to Green Gables. They were a favorite.
Jeanie is predeceased in death by her father Lloyd Reeser.
Jeanie is survived by her mother Vivian Reeser, Stillwater, brother Ron Reeser and wife Beverly, Atlanta Georgia, husband of 46 years, James at home, daughter Sarah Jane Ehrlich and husband Jake, grandson Osker, granddaughter Mazey Jane, Stillwater, Okla., Son Jay and wife Cristina, Granddaughter Claudia, Newport Beach, Calif., sister in laws Joy McDonald Anderson, Allen Okla., June McDonald Albright and husband Joe, Sulphur, Okla. And many nephew and nieces Craig Anderson and wife Kim, Frisco, Texas, Todd Albright and wife Cheryl, Salt Lake City, Utah, Ty Albright and wife Diane, Carrolton, Texas, Tawn Albright and wife Christle, Nashville, Tenn., Rachel Reeser Slack and husband Steven, Kelly Reeser Caruso and husband Tyler, Anna Reeser Long and husband Will all of Ashville, North Carolina.
Additionally Jeanie is survived by her self-adopted daughter and former student teacher Maggie Cowan and her husband Nakia and their children, Jeanies self-adopted grandchildren Chandler, Ethan, and Sydnee and personal caregiver Diana Hernandez and husband Franklin and their family.
In lieu of flowers for her Lifes Celebration a donation being made to University Heights Baptist Church Childrens Ministry or Pleasant Valley School would honor her greatly.