Rockdale Reporter, Thur., 11 Oct 2007

Jean McDonald, 78, of Rockdale since 1982, died Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007 in the Manor Oaks Nursing Home in Rockdale. Funeral services were held 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 8 at Phillips and Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale with Rev. Jack Chelf of First Baptist Church in Rockdale officiating. Burial followed in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Rockdale.

Mrs. McDonald was born May 10, 1929 in Milam County to August Anton Tuma and Lida Lawhon Tuma.

In her early years she traveled with her husband, a seismography company employee, which took them to Africa, Australia and Canada as well as many places in the United States. She later worked in home healthcare for the Girling Agency, was a dispatcher for the Rockdale Police Dept., a cook for Richards Memorial Hospital and a custodian for First Baptist Church in Rockdale where she often said “What a privilege it is to take care of God’s House.”

She was preceded in death by her parents; six brothers, Hudson, Emerson, Deck, Kit Carson, Phil and Sam Doyle Tuma; two sisters, Evelyn Pierrington and Lula Zora Purnell.

Survivors include her daughter, Katherine Miller-Kaplan of Seaside, OR; sister, Geraldine Offield of Rockdale; two grandchildren, Jenna C. Miller-Kaplan of Ashlan, OR and Dane J. Miller-Kaplan of Tokyo, Japan; numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers include Ed Tuma, Raymond Tuma and the Deacons of the First Baptist Church.

Memorial may be made to First Baptist Church in Rockdale or to Vista Care Hospice.