Shirley Louise McDonald, 77, Ellis, died Tuesday, October 27, 2026 at Ellis Good Samaritan Society.
She was born April 24, 1949 in Sedgwick County, Kansas, the daughter of Jackson and Joan (Nelson) Lewis. Shirley graduated from Longmont High School and Trinidad State Junior College with an Associate’s Degree in Criminology. On May 25, 1969, she was united in marriage to Ronald G. McDonald in Trinidad, and they celebrated 57 years of marriage. She owned and operated an H&R Block office for 20 years, and she was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church.
She enjoyed sewing, quilting, gardening, handwriting analysis, and family genealogy. Shirley was a gifted writer, publishing a book titled Old People Are Expected to Die in 2013, and she loved her family and attending her grandchildren’s activities.
Survivors include her husband Ronald of Ellis, her son Shawn McDonald of Salina, her daughter Noalee McDonald-Augustine and husband Mark of Hays, her brother Jack Lewis and wife Shelley of Springfield, MO, her sister Patricia Woodard and husband Rod of Belle Plaine, two grandchildren Tacoma and Shea Augustine, and two nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 31, 2026 at Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor Brenda Rodger officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00 am until service time on Saturday at the church. Memorials are suggested to Trinity Lutheran Church or to the Arc of the Central Plains. Services are entrusted to Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, and condolences and memories of Shirley may be shared with her family at www.haysmemorial.com