Mary B. (Buescher) McDonald |
| Posted 2017-05-01 by Judy Wight Branson |
| The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Friday, April 28, 2017, page 5a Mary Buescher McDonald, 87, of Prescott, Arizona, formerly of Champaign, Illinois, passed away on April 22, 2017, at Good Samaritan Hospice-Marley House in Prescott, Arizona. She was born to Walter and Olga Buescher on Nov. 18, 1929, in Oak Park, Illinois. She lived at Granite Gate this past year. She was the devoted wife of James McDonald and mother of Susan (Lauren Johnson) McDonald, Dianne (Craig) Tennant-Rucker of Prescott, Arizona, and Becky (Butch) Goddard of Denton, Texas. Mary was the proud grandmother of Jamie (Jason) Tennant Sample of Scottsdale, Arizona, Austin Tennant of Laramie, Wyoming, Shelley (Joe) Mallory of Little Elm, Texas, John “Jack” (Jenna) Tennant of Laramie, Wyoming, Greta Goddard, of Frisco, Texas, and Adrianne Tennant of Flagstaff, Arizona. Mary had six great grandchildren, Madison, Nash and Tanner Mallory of Little Elm, Texas, Colette and Delaney Sample of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Todd Tennant of Laramie, Wyoming. She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Susan McDonald; and her sister, Jane Sorenson. Mary is survived by her brother, Dick Buescher of Springfield, Missouri, and her sister, Kay (Frank) Lupi of Wheaton, Illinois. Mary attended the University of Illinois, attaining a BS in Home Economics and a MS in Therapeutic Recreation. She met her husband while in college and they enjoyed 57 years of marriage together. They were avid tennis players. Mary had a great passion for children with disabilities. In 1973, while working with the Motor Performance and Play Research Lab at the University of Illinois, she developed and published a dressing kit. She worked at Adler Zone Center and the Children’s Research Day Care Center at the University of Illinois. Mary became a well-known fiber artist and was the owner of Handwoven Designs. She began her artistic journey by creating fabric on a loom, making quilts, hats and pillows, and progressed to one-of-a-kind clothing/works of art. She eventually settled on art quilting. Her works of art can be seen in homes and businesses around Champaign-Urbana, Illinois. Her art quilts have been exhibited throughout C-U and have been featured in art shows and galleries throughout the Midwest. She created a set of three crosses in loving memory of her son-in-law, the late Todd Tennant, two of which hang in churches in Champaign County. The third will be displayed in the chapel of Marley House in Prescott. Since the family all live out of town, in lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to The Autism Program at the University of Illinois, http://tap.hcd.illinois.edu/gift.html or Developmental Services Center, www.dsc-Illinois.org. There will be a Celebration of Mary’s Life to be held Saturday, June 24, at 2 p.m., at the First Presbyterian Church, Champaign, Illinois. Morgan Memorial Home, Savoy, Illinois, is handling arrangements. Condolences may be made at www.morganmemorialhome.com. Information provided by survivors. |
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