Anita Kay Donaldson of Fairview, Texas passed away on January 21, 2019 on her 72nd birthday surrounded by her loving family. She was born on January 21, 1947 to Arthur William and Anna Mae (Rhodes) Gruber in Alhambra, California. Anita Kay, as she was affectionately called as a child, graduated from High School in California and later attended William Rainey Harper College in Palatine, Illinois where she obtained her paralegal certificate in 1978. Anita met the love of her life, William A. Donaldson “Bill,” at a dear friend’s wedding, and they were married on February 12, 1972 in Balboa Island, California. Shortly after, Anita and Bill moved to four different states for Bill’s career, had two daughters Andrea and Katie, and finally settled in Plano, Texas in 1983. Anita was a working Mom, as a paralegal, until she retired in 2000. Bill and Anita spent countless happily married years together with their daughters and best friends at Lake Lavon enjoying their boat. Anita was an amazing cook and seamstress and loved to shop and decorate. Her absolute greatest joy in life was being “Grammie” and spending time with her granddaughters Demmi and Ashley.
She is survived by her beloved husband of 47 years, Bill Donaldson of Fairview, Texas; two daughters, Andrea Joy Ross of Dana Point, California and Katie Donaldson Laclette and husband, Alex of Allen, Texas; two granddaughters, Demmi Anna Ross (16) and Ashley Carmen Laclette (7); and so many other family members and friends that love her so dearly.
Anita was preceded in death by her parents Arthur and Anna Mae.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 26, 2019 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home Chapel, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas 75013.
Memorial donations may be made in Anita’s name to Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, a near and dear cause to her and her family.