Obituary of Dorothy McDonald

Dorothy Lois McDonald was born to Laura and Harry Gruver on March 13, 1927 in Prescott, Washington. She died peacefully at the Black Lake Adult Care Home in Tumwater on September 7, 2024, at the age of 97. She was raised in Waitsburg, in Eastern Washington, until her parents moved to Shelton in the 1930’s. She graduated from Irene S. Reed High School in 1945 and went to Washington State College for a year before transferring to Western Washington College, which is now Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington. She enjoyed school and had a lot of fun with her high school friends who nicknamed her Toj, which stuck with her for most of her life. Dorothy married William R. Barnett, with whom she had four girls. In the early years they moved with baby daughter Joan to California. While Bill worked at various jobs Dorothy made a home for their daughters Joan, Jana (aka January), Patricia, and Carol. Bill and Dorothy subsequently divorced and Dorothy moved with their four daughters back up to Washington State in 1965. She returned to Western where she fulfilled the requirements to update her teaching certificate and then began teaching second grade at Bordeaux Elementary in Shelton, the same town where her parents and two brothers, Hugh and Lloyd Gruver lived with their families. Dorothy really enjoyed children and taught for many years. In 1973 she married Neil W. McDonald who died in 1987 from complications from multiple Sclerosis. While married to Neil she retired from teaching but continued to volunteer to help children with their reading. Later she spent several years as a volunteer at the Shelton Caboose welcoming visitors to Shelton, and she worked in the gift shop at Mason General Hospital and at the food bank. Dorothy was very gregarious and laughter came easily to her. She kept in touch with her old high school buddies, enjoyed traveling, and played bridge. Over the years she made several trips to Europe and around the U.S. She is survived by her daughters Joan Nordheim (Asbjorn ‘Ozzie’ Nordheim), January Kay Canfield, Patricia Lynn Campbell (William Campbell), and Carol Ann Barnett Pinkstaff (Phillip Pinkstaff), her eleven grandchildren ( Sarah, Kevin, Tristen, Erik, Birgit, Anne, Leah, Natalie, Sheila, Paul and Jeffrey), twelve great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She is missed by all.