Mary LaNell Gillam McDonald, age 84 of Seguin, passed away on December 1, 2023.  Mary was born on October 14, 1939, in Houston, Texas to Johnnie Bernice (Maxwell) and R. C. Gillam.  Mary was an active member of Walnut Street Church of Christ in Seguin.

Mary graduated from Spring Branch High School and met the love of her life Jimmy McDonald while attending Sam Houston State University in Huntsville. Mary and Jim were Married after Jim graduated and lived in West Texas where he was employed as an Agricultural Education Teacher. She was a homemaker and mother of 2 and helped Jim with the many activities of his job. After moving to Seguin, Mary returned to college at Southwest Texas Teachers College when her youngest started first grade.

With lots of support from her young family and friends, she was able to graduate and earn her degree in teaching with her entire family present to cheer her on. Mary became a teacher and had a long-running career of over 35 years working with the Gifted and Talented program which she loved greatly. She gave her all to her classes and led the creation of Wharton ISD's first butterfly garden. Channel 13 Houston News came to the garden and interviewed her and her class about the importance of the garden and how much work and coordination it required.

Mary loved to travel and had a folk art business where she created personalized gifts for many returning customers over the years. Mary also loved the garden and seems to have passed this green thumb onto her kids and grandkids. Mary always enjoyed sports of any kind; she was known to even set her alarm to watch Wimbledon live at 3:00 am. After retiring from teaching, she started working with the World Bible Study Foundation which taught people from all over the world about Jesus through an online site. Helping them learn English and about Jesus. Mary was responsible for bringing around 150 people to Christ.

She was an incredible grandmother and was known for being caring and spoiling her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It was never too far for her to drive to support her grandkids in sporting events or dance recitals. She touched many lives with her ability to teach, her generosity, and her desire to help others.

Mary was a kind and caring matriarch, and her generosity was unmatched. She taught all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, by example of her faith and Christian life. She will be greatly missed but never forgotten.

Mary is preceded in death by her loving husband of 60 years, Jimmy Loyd McDonald, her grandson Justin McDonald, and her parents.

Survivors include daughters, Robin McDonald, Kay Martin and husband James (Bubba) Martin; grandchildren who knew her as "Mammaw Mary"; Lans Martin and wife Melissa, Megan Poirier and husband Jamie; great-grandchildren, Anna Kate Martin, Evelyn Meredith Poirier, William Lanster Martin, Margaret Frances Poirier, Heidi Marie Martin, and Winifred Katherine Poirier; brother Ronald Gillam; sister-in-Law Doris Morris, and husband Chuck; several nieces, nephews, and other loving family members and friends.

A memorial service celebrating the life of Mary will be held at Tres Hewell Mortuary Chapel on Saturday, January 20, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. with Ken Walters officiating. A private interment will be held later at Boone Prairie Cemetery in Franklin, Texas.

Memorial Contributions may be made to World Bible School at the link below: https://www.worldbibleschool.net/give/