Dorothy Gayle McDonald passed away peacefully in her home on Friday, June 6 after a long illness. She was born at home, in Washington, Oklahoma, October 21, 1916, the only child of William H. and Francis Robb. At the age of 15, she graduated from high school and moved to Norman where she graduated from O.U. in 1936 with a BA in Public School Music. Dorothy Gayle completed her master's degree in Music Education in 1941 and moved to Kilgore, Texas to begin her teaching career. One of her first students was Van Clyburn, who later became a famous concert pianist. She later moved to Tulsa, then to Bartlesville where she taught junior high school music and private piano lessons for many years before retiring in 1970. Dorothy Gayle met George McDonald in Bartlesville and they were married June 10, 1952. She loved animals and continued to take pleasure in her cats after George's death in 1964. Other interests she enjoyed were china painting and needlework. Her mother had taught her to sew when she was 3 and she continued to do exquisite needle work throughout her life. Aunt Dot, as she is affectionately known by her family, is survived by the families of John English, David English, Irma Hamill, Clyde Dixon Bogle, and friends, Nancy Wake and Zelma Ubher. The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to her devoted friend and former student, Nancy, and all of Aunt Dot's loving care-givers and hospice nurses. Funeral services for Mrs. McDonald will be held 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at the Colonial Chapel of the Neekamp-Luginbuel Funeral Home. Mr. David English will preside over the services, with interment to follow in the White Rose Cemetery. Funeral services are under the direction of the Neekamp-Luginbuel Funeral Home. Online condolences may be left at www.honoringmemories.com.
Service Details
Wednesday, June 11th, 2008 2:00pm, Neekamp-Luginbuel Funeral Home
Interment Details
White Rose Cemetery