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Elmwood Cemetetry

Woodward, Woodward County, Oklahoma

© Billings Funeral Home
Submitted by: Terry Dudley

Lovella Nadine McGriff McDonald

March 22, 1939 ~ January 24, 2021

Lovella McDonald, 81 year old Sharon resident, passed away Sunday, January 24, 2021 in Woodward. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 29, 2021 in the Billings Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Sharon Cochran officiating. Masks will be required at the service. Lou's service will be broadcast live on the Billings Funeral Home website and Facebook page. The family will receive friends at the funeral home for visitation on Thursday, January 28, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.

Lovella Nadine (McGriff) McDonald was born on March 22, 1939 in Mutual, Oklahoma to Fred Lewis and Elsie Evelyn (Hamilton) McGriff. She grew up in the Woodward and Mutual area and graduated from Woodward High School in 1957. Lovella was united in marriage to Jack Dale McDonald on October 17, 1958 in Woodward, Oklahoma. They were blessed with five children: Dale, Ron, Tammy, Jay, and Bill. They made their first home in Woodward and also lived in Oklahoma City before moving to Sharon where they have lived for a number of years. Lou was a faithful member of the Sharon United Methodist Church. She enjoyed quilting, crocheting, cooking and being with family and friends.

She is survived by her husband Jack McDonald of the home; four sons: Dale and Karen McDonald of Mounds, Oklahoma, Ron and Heather McDonald of Lewisville, Texas, Jay and Vickie McDonald of Mentor, Ohio, Bill McDonald of Tulsa; one daughter, Tammy and Tiffany Brittan-McDonald of Port Orchard, Washington; grandchildren: Megan Selby and husband Andy of Mounds, Oklahoma, Zack McDonald of Mounds, Oklahoma, Emma McDonald of Lewisville, Texas, Zane McDonald of Austin, Texas, Devin McDonald of Murrieta, California, Jackson and Jaden McDonald of Menter, Ohio, Allison Dauphin of Sharon, Kylor Sapcutt of Port Orchard, Washington; one great-grandchild, Brantley Cole Selby; two brothers, Rodney McGriff and wife Linda of Hanford, California, Craig McGriff and wife Donna of Oklahoma City; other relatives and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lewis and Elsie McGriff and one brother Larry McGriff.

Memorial contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church of Sharon with the funeral home accepting the contributions. Lovella,

Saint Peter started off last Sunday as he starts every day preparing for new arrivals. He had been unusually busy the last few months, so the Lord had given him an intern to take some of the load. The intern was ambitious and wanted to impress Saint Peter, so he took a large stack of folders for the days arrivals. One was huge and almost a load by itself. Saint Peter said "are you sure you want that one? It's for Lovella McDonald, she was a busy bee her whole life and generated lots of notations in the Book of Life." The intern replied "yes, I have heard of her and if I want to learn, I should start with a hard one. From the size of her book, I may need to ask you a few questions before I pass her on to you for final clearance." Saint Peter said "it always best to start with who her parents were, sometimes that explains a lot."

The intern opened to page one and read Lewis and Elsie's names. "Oh my gosh, you are right, that does explain a lot. I have met Lewis and Elsie, they are quite a pair. I can see each of them in Lovella." Saint Peter then said "OK, now look at her siblings, husband, kids, and list of friends she had. By reading who influenced her, you can begin to understand her and the path she traveled to arrive here." The intern then sat down with the heavy book and began to read. First her siblings�many chapters and hair-raising notations! "Holy cow he said, it's amazing she survived her childhood.

Then she married into the McDonald clan. The notations about Jack added more chapters and hundreds of interesting notations." "She jousted with everyone in the family but was the first to help if anyone needed it. The McDonalds were a rowdy bunch on earth and the ones who have passed, haven't slowed down much in heaven. They have a running game of cut-throat pitch that has been going on for an eternity. Some of the name calling and threats that come from that game, has caused them to be reprimanded on almost a daily basis. You would think they were going to fight, but then they all laugh and disagree whose deal it is, then start another game. Lovella fits in perfectly with the clan.

Her kids each have their own book and they must be busy bees too, judging from their numbers of notations. It is amazing they are all still on earth. They generated notes by the hundreds in the book in their early years but have since grown and it has slowed considerably. It is beginning to look like they will make it to heaven too one day."

The intern asked "Saint Peter�why was she so nice most of the time but would be mean to certain people; I see where she referred to several as "you little turd" and one she called "dipshit" every time she saw him."

Saint Peter laughed and said "she was not mean, it was never said with spite, it was said to tease. She loved to tease and to be teased. You knew you were special if she started teasing you. Her family spent hours coming up with ways to poke fun at her. They once built her a custom outhouse complete with Aunt Edna sitting on the throne. The looks on folk's faces when she would be showing them the outhouse and open the door to see Edna, were priceless.

The family also made a corn hole set and painted Lovella's open mouth as the target. The family laughs about the "Lou Lou" projects, even after many years."

Her list of friends was one of the most impressive the intern had ever seen. Saint Peter explained "true friends are a measure of wealth in heaven and will pay the debts of bad decisions that were made in life. Lovella was not perfect, but her wealth will more than cover any debts she had."

The intern asked Saint Peter "why are they building her mansion with such a big kitchen, big dining table and huge patio? Most people think of heaven as a place they no longer have to cook." Saint Peter said "she was happiest when she was feeding someone. Everyone who morns for her, has eaten at her table many times. And I might add, they have eaten well. She always had an open door and an extra plate for unexpected guests. Her mansion will be open to all and her visitors will be many, as it was on earth."

Then Saint Peter added "well, it's about time to go to work. I need you to run over to the reception hall and quiet that bunch down and make sure Aunt Edna is still sitting at the table, they had her sitting on a cloud over DC waving at airplanes arriving for the inauguration a few days ago. The odd thing is, it was never on the news.

They are supposed to be preparing a huge party for her arrival, but they get sidetracked when they get to telling stories about her and it gets pretty loud when they are laughing about the fun they had at the fish fries.