Elizabeth T. McDonald

Mrs. Elizabeth (Betty) T. McDonald, age 83, passed away Wednesday, August 29, 2012, in Columbia, Maryland. Betty was born on April 13, 1929, in Ossining, New York, to Lawrence Tryon and Helen Cahill Tryon. Betty grew up in Croton-on-Hudson, New York, and graduated from Croton High School. She attended secretarial school and worked as an executive secretary for Young & Rubicam Advertising Agency in New York City and later for one of their television stations, WNDU, in South Bend, Indiana. It was there that she met her husband of 49 years, Dr. Harry S. McDonald. Betty and Harry moved to Nacogdoches, Texas, in 1965 where they lived for 35 years. She spent many years as a full-time mother to her two daughters as well as working in various secretarial positions over the years. Betty was very active in Sacred Heart Parish in Nacogdoches where she volunteered many hours. She also taught swimming lessons and volunteered at a local rehabilitation center teaching water safety and aerobics. Betty moved to Richmond, Texas, in 2000 when her husband retired and became active in Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Richmond. She enjoyed playing mahjong, knitting, teaching water aerobics and traveling with her husband, friends and grandchildren. She moved to Columbia, Maryland, in 2011. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harry S. McDonald, her parents, Lawrence and Helen Tryon and two brothers, William Tryon and Lawrence Tryon, Jr. She is survived by daughters Ellen McDonald Bynum and her husband Barry, of Richmond, Texas, and Ann McDonald Nicholson and her husband Scott, of Columbia, Maryland; brothers, George Tryon of New York, and Phillip Tryon of Lutz, Florida; sister, Leona Toups, of Tucson, Arizona; grandchildren Rachel Bynum Holmes and husband Kevin of Martindale, Texas, Benjamin Bynum and Alexander Bynum of Richmond, Texas, Kathryn Nicholson of Austin, Texas and Julia Nicholson of Columbia, Maryland; and numerous nieces and nephews. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, September 7, 2012, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 507 S. Fourth St., in Richmond, Texas. Interment will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Rosenberg, Texas. The Rev. Joe Templado and Deacon Don Ries will officiate the services. Memorial contributions may be made to the Harry and Betty McDonald Memorial Scholarship at Stephen F. Austin State University, c/o SFA Alumni Association, P.O. Box 6096, Nacogdoches, Texas, 75962. Funeral Arrangements are under the direction of Davis-Greenlawn Funeral Home, 3900 B.F. Terry Blvd., Rosenberg, Texas, 281-341-8800.