Pat Mcdonald

Pat McDonald, age 68, left this earthly existence Tuesday, May 6, 2008, after a courageous battle with ovarian cancer. While known to some folks as ?The Butterfly Lady,? she treasured the title her grandsons used, ?Momma Mac? Pat was always available to her family and gave unconditional love. She was the daughter of the late Homer and Tressie Smith. Survivors include: husband - Ed; son and daughter in law - Stephen and Sandy McDonald; daughter - Judy Coleman; grandsons - Will and Clay McDonald, and RJ Coleman; brother and sister in law - Henry and Jan Smith; sister and brother in law - Ruth and Francis Johnson; mother in law - Wanda McDonald; sister in law - Marty Davis; nephews - Allen Johnson and Martin Davis; nieces - Debbie Lilley and Jill Davis, along with many cousins and friends who will miss her love of life, people and nature. A life long learner, she graduated from Ouachita Baptist University and earned her master?s degree from University of Central Arkansas. Her post graduate work was done at University of Arkansas - Little Rock and University of Central Arkansas. She was a Media Specialist/Librarian for 26 years with the North Little Rock Public Schools. In addition to her many friends, some of her affiliations included: Park Hill Baptist Church, Master Gardeners, North American Butterfly Association, Association of Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) and Arkansas Association of Instructional Media (AAIM). As a member of AAIM, she served on committees, on the Board of Directors and served as Secretary, President-Elect, President, and Treasurer. Honors she received included: NLR Parent Teacher Association Teacher of the Year, 1994; AECT Region VII Leadership Award, 1996; AAIM Leadership Award, 1997 and 2005. In 2008 the AAIM Board of Directors renamed the individual achievement award to the ?Pat McDonald Outstanding Individual Achievement Award.? She was featured in The Times, October 7, 1999 issue, ?Mad About Monarchs - A School Media Specialist Shares Her Passion for the Winged Beauties,? and also in the August 22, 2002 issue, ?Feed for Fleeting Flutterers - One Distinguished Butterfly Habitat? A lover of nature, her backyard was awarded the designation of a Wildlife Habitat with the Nature Conservancy. Her yard was accepted as one of the early Monarch Waystations registered with Monarch Watch. She frequently spoke to groups regarding gardening to attract and cultivate butterflies. Hobbies included family, especially playing with her grandsons, photography, walking, butterfly gardening, ballroom dancing, travel and tagging Monarch butterflies in the fall in connection with Monarch Watch at Kansas University. Pat has had 51 of her tagged Monarchs recovered in Mexico. Memorials may be made to a favorite charity or Monarch Watch, KU Endowment, PO Box 928, Lawrence, KS 66044. A service to celebrate her life will be held at Park Hill Baptist Church, North Little Rock on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. with Reverend Ken Shaddox and Reverend Luke Flesher officiating. Family will receive friends from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the North Little Rock Funeral Home on Wednesday. Online obituary and guest register at www.nlrfh.com.