Laura Michelle Mcdonald

Laura Michelle McDonald, known to everyone as Michelle, 47, of Taylor, TX, went home to the Lord, Thursday, August 17, 2017 after a very short, heroic, painful battle with cancer. During her illness, Michelle was immensely brave, strong, and determined to continue living her life purposely and passionately. She deeply loved her family and friends, and valued each moment spent with them. Her faith never wavered and she displayed her unique sense of humor until the end.  If you knew Michelle, you knew that she had a definitive way of doing things and that meant living each minute of the last few months of her life with passion, dignity, and love.

Michelle loved adventure, which included hiking in Iceland, dog sledding in Minnesota, and almost dying snowmobiling in a blizzard in Yellowstone National Park. Her favorite vacation was an amazing 10 days in Normandy and Paris France where the love of her life, John McDonald, proposed marriage to her beneath the Eiffel Tower. She was committed to health and fitness, and spent 10 years as a personal trainer and fitness instructor. She loved all her "peeps". Adventures aside, Michelle would boast her greatest accomplishment was her children.  Michelle always had a place in her heart and soul for babies and puppy bellies.

Michelle was born in Austin, TX. December 12th, 1969. As Michelle's family followed Gordon's military assignments, Michelle fondly recalled her life in a big, old house in Kansas and especially her time in San Angelo. In San Angelo she was spoiled by her Meme and Papa but especially Meme as Michelle was the only grandchild for many years of which she took full advantage.

She grew up in Round Rock and graduated from Round Rock High School in 1988. After attending Texas State University, Michelle joined the Taylor, Texas community where she lived for the remainder of her life. At the time of her death, she was an account manager for S&D Plumbing, in Taylor.

She is survived by her husband, John McDonald, son, Trey Meaker (22) of Cedar Park, daughter, Hailey Meaker (15) of Taylor, adult step-children Carrie Ann Ruiz and Manny of Round Rock and their children Ally and Tyson, Candi McDonald of Hutto, and Gabe and Kim McDonald of Houston, parents Phyllis Bosserman of Round Rock and Gordon Ethridge of Lago Vista, sister Meredith Ethridge of Taylor, niece Sierra Cortez of Taylor, along with numerous loving aunts, uncles, and cousins, and her Dogue de Bordeaux, Mac Daddy.

Michelle will be terribly missed by all those who knew and loved her. There will be a visitation Tuesday, August 22, 6-8 PM at Providence Funeral Home. Services will be held Wednesday, August 23, 10 AM at Tenth St. United Methodist Church.

Memorials may be made in her name to The Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, http://cholangiocarcinoma.org/ , Lone Star Dog Ranch Rescue, https://dogranchrescue.com/make-a-donation/ , 10th Methodist Church - Taylor, or the charity of one's choice.

"I love my husband.

I love my kids.

Love my family and friends

But I hate cancer...."