Official Obituary of
Jane Heitman MacDonald
July 11, 1948 ~ January 27, 2017 (age 68) 68 Years Old
Jane MacDonald Obituary
Dr. Jane Heitman MacDonald, 68, of McKinney, Texas, passed away on January 27, 2017, at rest and at peace. Jane had battled a slowly progressing autoimmune disease for more than 20 years. Born on July 11, 1948 in Houston, Texas, she was the eldest of the four children of the late Talmage M. Heitman, Jr. and Kathryn Fogleman Heitman.
Jane graduated from Jesse H. Jones High School (Houston, TX) in 1966, where she met her sweetheart and the love of her life, James R. MacDonald. She and Jim would later marry in December of 1968. Upon graduating high school, Jane attended the University of Houston. Inspired by a close family friend who was deaf, Jane pursued a degree in Deaf Education, earning a Bachelor of Science in 1970. An award-winning teacher of the Deaf, Jane created a language centered curriculum for the hearing-impaired used in schools throughout the state of Texas. In 1976, she was named "Teacher of the Year" for the entire Houston Independent School District (HISD). Jane earned a Master of Education in Educational Administration in 1977 from Texas A&M University. Then, at age 27, she became the youngest ever principal in HISD. A trailblazer and visionary in education for the handicapped and severely multi-handicapped populations, Jane along with the HISD superintendent, developed a most innovative concept for the time: Magnet Schools for Special Populations integrated with the Gifted/Talented. A pioneer in this educational approach, Principal MacDonald and HISD received national attention, as her two campuses (Grady and T. H. Rogers) were examples for school districts across the country. Continuing with her education, Jane graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from Texas A&M University in 1986. Previous to earning her PhD, she co-directed the Texas A&M University Principals' Center and focused her dissertation on such: The Impact of Intensive Training on the Professional Development of School Principals. Well-loved at the university, she was offered the position of Assistant Professor, where she continued teaching and training future school principals.
Dr. MacDonald left the halls of higher education, to resume the role of a school principal when her family moved to New Braunfels, Texas. As principal of Carl Schurz Elementary for ten years, Jane was able to blend her academic theories with practical application. In the late 1990s, Dr. MacDonald became the principal of Wylie High School in Wylie, Texas and later the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction for the Wylie ISD. For many years before retiring, Dr. MacDonald continued her work as an Adjunct Professor at several different universities, teaching and developing courses both online and in educational settings. Jane was the consummate educator. Her long and storied career in education spans decades. Tenacious, creative, innovative, disciplined, and unstoppable! She authored many books, manuscripts, and publications. Her honors, awards, certifications, grants, and commendations are too numerous to list. She was associated with many professional organizations and Foundation Officer of Phi Delta Kappa (TAMU-Commerce). Continuing to work until retirement in 2011, Jane slowed down but never gave up or gave in to the debilitating disease that she battled for years.
Nicknamed "a force to be reckoned with" by her son, Jane had a larger-than-life presence and a captivating wit. She was a fun aunt/grandmother to visit with amusing games and challenging activities. An outstanding hostess, cook, and party organizer, she also had a knack for interior design and a creative eye for decorating. Inventive in so many ways, Jane was a "crafter extraordinaire." Together with Jim's woodworking skills, they created beautiful original pieces. Her love for quilting, cross-stitch, and rug hooking was obvious to all who knew her, and she delighted in the time she would spend with her "hooking" friends. Jane also drew comfort from her Catholic faith, looking forward to regular visits from Lay Minister Chip Marz of St. Gabriel's Catholic Church in McKinney.
Preceded in death by her parents and brother-in-law Thomas Y. Hatcher, Jane is survived by her devoted husband of 48 years - her partner, her rock, James R. MacDonald, of McKinney, Texas; her children: Shannon C. MacDonald of Conroe, Texas and Alec B. MacDonald and wife Jessica, of New Braunfels, Texas; her grandchildren: Kaitlyn, Emily, Lindsay, and Abigail, of New Braunfels, Texas. Survived also by her three siblings: Caroll J. Hatcher of Earlysville, Virginia; Karl W. Heitman and wife Joy, of Barrington, Illinois; Mary H. Jones and husband Kim, of Houston, Texas; seven nephews and one niece; five great-nephews and four great-nieces; and many close friends.
The Funeral Mass for Jane H. MacDonald will be held Thursday, February 9, at 3:00 pm, at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 386 N. Castell Ave, New Braunfels, TX 78130, followed by a reception. Visitation will be earlier at 12:00 noon, in the same location, followed by a Rosary at 2:15 pm, prior to the Mass.
Interment on Friday, February 10, at 1:45 pm, at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209.
In lieu of flowers, donations in the name of Dr. Jane H. MacDonald can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105; or www.stjude.org/donate.
386 N. Castell Ave
New Braunfels, TX, 78130
386 N. Castell Ave
New Braunfels, TX, 78130
386 N. Castell Ave
New Braunfels, TX, 78130
1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd
San Antonio, TX, 78209
Jane graduated from Jesse H. Jones High School (Houston, TX) in 1966, where she met her sweetheart and the love of her life, James R. MacDonald. She and Jim would later marry in December of 1968. Upon graduating high school, Jane attended the University of Houston. Inspired by a close family friend who was deaf, Jane pursued a degree in Deaf Education, earning a Bachelor of Science in 1970. An award-winning teacher of the Deaf, Jane created a language centered curriculum for the hearing-impaired used in schools throughout the state of Texas. In 1976, she was named "Teacher of the Year" for the entire Houston Independent School District (HISD). Jane earned a Master of Education in Educational Administration in 1977 from Texas A&M University. Then, at age 27, she became the youngest ever principal in HISD. A trailblazer and visionary in education for the handicapped and severely multi-handicapped populations, Jane along with the HISD superintendent, developed a most innovative concept for the time: Magnet Schools for Special Populations integrated with the Gifted/Talented. A pioneer in this educational approach, Principal MacDonald and HISD received national attention, as her two campuses (Grady and T. H. Rogers) were examples for school districts across the country. Continuing with her education, Jane graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from Texas A&M University in 1986. Previous to earning her PhD, she co-directed the Texas A&M University Principals' Center and focused her dissertation on such: The Impact of Intensive Training on the Professional Development of School Principals. Well-loved at the university, she was offered the position of Assistant Professor, where she continued teaching and training future school principals.
Dr. MacDonald left the halls of higher education, to resume the role of a school principal when her family moved to New Braunfels, Texas. As principal of Carl Schurz Elementary for ten years, Jane was able to blend her academic theories with practical application. In the late 1990s, Dr. MacDonald became the principal of Wylie High School in Wylie, Texas and later the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction for the Wylie ISD. For many years before retiring, Dr. MacDonald continued her work as an Adjunct Professor at several different universities, teaching and developing courses both online and in educational settings. Jane was the consummate educator. Her long and storied career in education spans decades. Tenacious, creative, innovative, disciplined, and unstoppable! She authored many books, manuscripts, and publications. Her honors, awards, certifications, grants, and commendations are too numerous to list. She was associated with many professional organizations and Foundation Officer of Phi Delta Kappa (TAMU-Commerce). Continuing to work until retirement in 2011, Jane slowed down but never gave up or gave in to the debilitating disease that she battled for years.
Nicknamed "a force to be reckoned with" by her son, Jane had a larger-than-life presence and a captivating wit. She was a fun aunt/grandmother to visit with amusing games and challenging activities. An outstanding hostess, cook, and party organizer, she also had a knack for interior design and a creative eye for decorating. Inventive in so many ways, Jane was a "crafter extraordinaire." Together with Jim's woodworking skills, they created beautiful original pieces. Her love for quilting, cross-stitch, and rug hooking was obvious to all who knew her, and she delighted in the time she would spend with her "hooking" friends. Jane also drew comfort from her Catholic faith, looking forward to regular visits from Lay Minister Chip Marz of St. Gabriel's Catholic Church in McKinney.
Preceded in death by her parents and brother-in-law Thomas Y. Hatcher, Jane is survived by her devoted husband of 48 years - her partner, her rock, James R. MacDonald, of McKinney, Texas; her children: Shannon C. MacDonald of Conroe, Texas and Alec B. MacDonald and wife Jessica, of New Braunfels, Texas; her grandchildren: Kaitlyn, Emily, Lindsay, and Abigail, of New Braunfels, Texas. Survived also by her three siblings: Caroll J. Hatcher of Earlysville, Virginia; Karl W. Heitman and wife Joy, of Barrington, Illinois; Mary H. Jones and husband Kim, of Houston, Texas; seven nephews and one niece; five great-nephews and four great-nieces; and many close friends.
The Funeral Mass for Jane H. MacDonald will be held Thursday, February 9, at 3:00 pm, at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, 386 N. Castell Ave, New Braunfels, TX 78130, followed by a reception. Visitation will be earlier at 12:00 noon, in the same location, followed by a Rosary at 2:15 pm, prior to the Mass.
Interment on Friday, February 10, at 1:45 pm, at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209.
In lieu of flowers, donations in the name of Dr. Jane H. MacDonald can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105; or www.stjude.org/donate.
Visitation
FEB 9. 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM (CST)
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church386 N. Castell Ave
New Braunfels, TX, 78130
Rosary
FEB 9. 2:15 PM - 2:45 PM (CST)
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church386 N. Castell Ave
New Braunfels, TX, 78130
Funeral Mass
FEB 9. 3:00 PM (CST)
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church386 N. Castell Ave
New Braunfels, TX, 78130
Graveside Service
FEB 10. 1:45 PM - 2:15 PM (CST)
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd
San Antonio, TX, 78209
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