Juanita Marie (Messer) McDonald
Juanita Marie (Messer) McDonald, age 82, of Prescott, Arkansas passed away on March 21, 2025.
Mrs. McDonald was born on February 6, 1943, to her parents, Clifford and Thelma Messer in Hope, Arkansas (Rocky Mound Community). Juanita, known as Nita to everyone, was the youngest of 5 children. Nita was saved at the young age of 9 during a revival at Unity Baptist Church in Hope. She was baptized and was a member of the Rocky Mound Baptist Church, also in Hope. She grew up in Hope and attended school there. In High School, Nita sang in the choir, played basketball and was on the pep squad.
After graduation, she attended and graduated from Beauty College in Oklahoma City, Ok. Nita married and moved out of state. In 1977, Nita moved back to Arkansas, to Prescott, with her two children, Renee and Billy. She began working at Potlatch Corporation (where she retired from in later years) and became a member of Central Baptist Church.
Nita sang in the choir (she loved the Easter and Christmas Cantatas) and sang as a part of a Ladie’s Trio with her sister Lenora Dalrymple and good friend, Melva Morman. In 1980, Nita married Joe McDonald and gained two bonus children, Joe Charles McDonald and Dean McDonald, who she loved as her own. Nita continued to be a faithful member of Central Baptist Church where she served anywhere that she could. She taught Sunday School. She loved to cook and feed people! She was an excellent cook! She was a member of the DAR, Tri Service, and loved playing bridge with her bridge ladies.
Nita was a granny! She has 7 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild. She LOVED her family.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Clifford and Thelma Messer of Hope; her brother and sister-in-law; Bobby and Joyce Messer of Benton, her brother; Darryl Messer of Little Rock, her sister, Lenora Dalrymple of Prescott; her brother Carrol Messer of Hope; her niece Lisa Messer of Hope; and a nephew; Brad Messer of Hot Springs.
Left to cherish her memory is her husband, Joe McDonald of Prescott, children, Joe Charles McDonald of Genoa, Dean McDonald (Dana McDonald) of Hope, Renee Baugh (David Baugh) of Cabot, and Billy Thomas (Melissa Thomas) of Conway; two sister in law’s, Joyce Messer of Little Rock, Sherry Messer Black of Hope; brother in law, Carl Dalrymple of Prescott; along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Central Baptist Church.
Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at Central Baptist Church in Prescott, Arkansas.
Funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, with Bro. Roy Johnson and Bro. Tom Mitchell officiating. Burial will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery under the direction of Herndon-Fuqua Funeral Home.