MCDONALD, NANCY HANKS (1934 ~ 2007). The following is an obituary for former State Representative Nancy Hanks McDonald written by the Associated Press. The obituary was published by several newspapers after McDonald's death.
"Former El Paso state Rep. Nancy McDonald, known as a champion for health care and an advocate for AIDS patients, died Monday at age 72 after battling ovarian cancer, her family said.
McDonald was a nurse before being elected to the Texas Legislature, where she served from 1984 until 1995. She was born in Bowling Green, Ky., and moved to El Paso in 1966.
In the Texas House, she sponsored childhood immunization legislation in 1991. Former state Rep. Glen Maxey recalled working with McDonald in the late 1980s before he was a lawmaker to promote legislation that would consider AIDS and HIV a public health issue instead of a social issue. He described her as a 'guardian angel' for AIDS and HIV patients.
State Rep. Pat Haggerty, R-El Paso, said McDonald made sure the El Paso Psychiatric Center was funded so that El Paso residents wouldn't have to travel hundreds of miles for psychiatric care.
McDonald is survived by her husband of 52 years, Willis McDonald. The two lived in Austin since retiring. She also is survived by nine children, 27 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and one sister. A daughter preceded her in death in 2005.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Austin Catholic Church in Austin, followed by a burial in the Texas State Cemetery. A viewing and rosary will take place at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively, on Wednesday at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home in Austin.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Elizabeth Rose McDonald Nursing Scholarship Endowment to Promote Excellence in Nursing at The Seton Fund, 1201 W. 38th. Street, Austin, TX 78705."
Further information is available through the Texas State Cemetery research department. |
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