Yvonne Julia (Izzard) McDonald, of Cedarville, Michigan, peacefully went to be with her Lord and Savior on December 30, 2024, at home (Cedar Cove Assisted Living) at the age of 87. She was born, February 23, 1937, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, to Dewey and Pearl (Laundry) Izzard.
Yvonne grew up in Gillette, Wyoming and upon the passing of her mother, was raised by her Uncle Ford and Aunt Annabelle Izzard in Cedarville, Michigan. She graduated from Cedarville High School in 1956. She married the love of her life, William J. McDonald, on May 19, 1956, and Cedarville became their home.
Yvonne was a long-time member of First Union Church, where she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School to young children and volunteered her time visiting shut ins and delivering recordings of the church services to them. She was president of the “Mother’s Club,” an organization that made and shipped care packages for first-year members of the armed forces and first-year college students, as well as sending cards to the ill, delivering baby gifts for new babies in the area, and visiting senior citizen facilities.
She was an active participant in the founding of the Cedar Cove Assisted Living Facility and remained involved by helping with various fundraisers and visiting residents. Yvonne gave her time as a volunteer to the Cedar Post Food Pantry and Thrift Store. She spent several years as a volunteer for Loryce M. Dyer Memorial Hospice of Mackinac County. She volunteered at Mackinac Straits Hospital Long Term Care Facility visiting residents and taking them on outings. She was a member of the Trojan Booster Club for many years, where she also served as secretary and treasurer over the years, and was a charter member of the Les Cheneaux Snowmobile Club. In 1997, Yvonne was awarded the Les Cheneaux Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award for her love, caring, and selfless giving to those in need.
Her greatest enjoyments were spending time with her husband, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and extended family. She enjoyed snowmobiling, dancing and attending local sporting events. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and as a caring person with great sense of humor and enjoyment of practical jokes. She was loved by anyone who had the pleasure of knowing her.
Yvonne is survived by her son, Randy McDonald; daughters, Rhonda (Lester Patrick) Miller, Tracy Reichlin, all of Cedarville, Shelley (Jeff) Promo of Hessel, Michigan; niece, Jodi Izzard, of Hessel; grandchildren, Nathan (Meghan Mitchell) Smith, Dylan (Kaalin Crawford) McDonald, Kevin Reichlin and Sienna (Hunter Lambert) Reichlin, Tracie Hultgren, and Daryl Miller; eight great grandchildren; sister, Jackie Smith; and special sisters-in-law, Marjorie Izzard and Judith Izzard.
Yvonne was preceded in death by her husband, William McDonald; baby daughter, Donna Corrine; parents, Dewey and Pearl; aunt and uncle, Annabelle and Ford Izzard; siblings, Donna Means, Clark Izzard, Delores Wright, Glen Izzard, Howard Craft, Fred Izzard, Wilson Izzard, Robert Izzard, and Arbutus “Boots” Brown; son-in-law, Bernard Miller; and special uncle, Melbourne Williams.
Memorial Gathering will be held on Saturday, January 11th, 2025, from 9:30 A.M. – 11:00 A.M. with a Memorial Service following at 11:00 A.M. at the First Union Church, 159 E Hodeck St, Cedarville, MI 49719, with Rev. James Huber conducting the service, followed by a luncheon.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Cedar Cove Assisted Living, P.O. Box 580, Cedarville, MI 49719 or First Union Church, P.O. Box 426, Cedarville, MI 49719.
Final resting place will be at Oaklawn Chapel Gardens.
Family Life Funeral Homes assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be left to the family at www.familylifefh.com.
