Nina Donaldson

Nina Donaldson, 88, of Waco, passed away Saturday, May 14, 2005 at a local nursing home. Graveside services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 17, at Waco Memorial North with the Rev. John Byrum officiating. Visitation with the family will be from 5-7 p.m. Monday, May 16 in the Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Garden Room. Nina Davis Donaldson was born September 18, 1916 in Coryell County. She was the sixth of seven children of an old central Texas pioneer family. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Davis, helped settle the Gatesville-Levita area in the 1890’s through the turn of the century. Nina married George Donaldson on December 19, 1942 while he was serving in the United States Army during World War II. They resided in Waco, where their two daughters, Sandy and Carol, were born and raised. George died in Waco in 2000. Nina was a life-long member of St. John’s Methodist Church and later Cogdell’s Methodist Church. She was an active member of the Eastern Star and was a volunteer with Meals on Wheels in her later years. She remained close friends with the ladies in her Sunday School group throughout her life. Nina was a fabulous cook and homemaker. Her main interests were her family and their well-being. She was very proud of the assistance she gave in raising her granddaughter, Juliana, in the 1980’s. Her sons-in-law, Marshal and Trey, were the happy recipients of her wonderful pecan pies each Thanksgiving and Christmas. Nina is survived by her immediate family; daughter, Sandy Dooley, her husband, Marshal, and their children, Juliana Sydow of Portland, Oregon and Marshal Dooley, Jr. of Austin, Texas; and daughter, Carol South and her husband, Trey of Waco. Carol was unwavering in her daily attention and devotion to her mother in her declining years. Nina’s closest life-long friend was her cousin, Yvonne Crews of Durham, North Carolina. She is also survived by Yvonne’s daughter, Andrea Cates, her husband Dave, and their sons, Dan and Drew. Other survivors include her nephew, J. B. Anderson of Gatesville, and her niece Naomi Autrey, her husband L. J and their sons, Jimmy and Ricky, also of Gatesville. Nina’s sweet spirit and gentle heart will be missed not only by her family, but by her close friends and the staff at Quality Care in Waco where she lived for the last five years of her life. Her family is eternally grateful to the staff for their excellent care and many acts of kindnesses. Her family also wishes to thank Hillcrest Hospice for helping make her final days peaceful and tranquil. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Fuzzy Friends, 6321 Airport Dr., Waco, Texas, 76708. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our “Memorial Guestbook” at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com WILKIRSON-HATCH-BAILEY