Beverly Cleary Smith McDonald Obituary (1918 - 2015)

Beverly Cleary Smith McDonald 97, of rural Mt. Zion, IL passed away at 3:00 a.m., Tuesday, September 15, 2015, at St. Mary's Hospital, Decatur. A service to celebrate Beverly's life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 19, 2015, in the Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church. Burial will be in Mt. Zion Township Cemetery. The family will receive friends for a time of visitation beginning at 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Friday evening at the church. Memorials may be made to the Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church or the Mt. Zion Foundation for Quality Education. Dawson & Wikoff Funeral Home, Mt. Zion is assisting the family with services. Beverly was born April 2, 1918, in rural Macon County, IL the daughter of DeLoss and Mabel (Cleary) Smith. She married Robert Paul McDonald on May 9, 1936. He preceded her in death on March 16, 2011. Beverly was a wonderful farmer's wife, assisting her husband in many of the farming tasks. She was a life-long member of the Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church. Surviving are her daughter: Paula Cooley and her husband Dan of Mt. Zion Township, IL; grandchildren: Doug Childs of Decatur and Heather Childs Mason and her husband Jason of Mt. Zion; great-grandchildren: Madison and Colin Mason both of Mt. Zion; sister-in-law: Harriet Douglass of Decatur; and many nieces and nephews. Beverly was preceded in death by her husband, parents, infant sister: Evelyn Julia Smith, and her special little dog: Foxy Lady. The family wishes to extend their sincere gratitude to Dr. Dan Smith, Dr. Stefania Bailuc, the staff at St. Mary's Hospital and her caregivers Lawana and Ernestine for all their care and compassion shown to Beverly and the family. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.dawson-wikoff.com.