Linda Louise McDonald

Linda Louise McDonald, born March 5, 1951 in Buffalo, NY, passed from this world peacefully with her son Justin in attendance in home hospice after a series of repeated pneumonia episodes in 2026 on Wednesday June 24, Linda may have felt this day was appropriate due to unexpected cloudy/foggy weather which she enjoyed. Linda suffered from many significant injuries which caused her a great deal of pain for over 20 years, in a sense her passing will be a relief to her enduring many decades of severe pain. Linda enjoyed being outdoors whether while camping when younger in the Adirondack Mountains, or later by visits to her son’s forested cabin in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. Linda enjoyed watching and reading about our natural world, always fascinated with many encounters with birds, butterflies, deer, bear, coyote, fox, and our local herd of Big Horn Sheep near our home. When Linda was feeling better she enjoyed crafting, painting pottery, and drawing with colored pencils on a variety of subjects. She enjoyed yearly visits to Tucson Arizona for Thanksgiving, road trips to Colorado’s National Parks when she had more mobility and always kept very fond memories of her upbringing in Western NY, and visits to San Francisco, CA.

Linda was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 33 years, Thomas Sullivan McDonald (Capt. USAF, retired), her parents Jack T. Rowland and Barbara R. Moses, her brother-in-law James P. McDonald and several very important to her canine companions: Goldie, Amber, Brandi, Shelia, and Hank plus of course grandparents, aunts and uncles, and in-law parents who were all important to Linda.

Surviving Linda include her son, Justin P. McDonald, brothers John, Bruce, and Phil Rowland plus their spouses, and in-laws Peter and Judy McDonald, and Larry Karnoff. Beloved pets Scout (a red heeler) and GusToo (a tuxedo cat) were also important to Linda and miss her dearly.

Services will be brief per her wishes at the graveside of her husband in July, however a remembrance/celebration will be held at her favorite place (the mountain cabin) in Fall/late September 2026, more information will be provided as that approaches and time firms up.