Donna Jean MacDonald

Funeral service for Donna MacDonald will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, May 2, 2024 at Church of Christ with Pastor Ernie Bishop officiating; interment at 2:00 p.m., Moorcroft Cemetery. Visitation will take place one hour prior to services at the church. Donna Jean (Buscaglia) MacDonald was born on November 14, 1947 in Weymouth, Massachusetts to Carl and Elfreda (Withee) Buscaglia. She was an only child and grew up in a very loving, happy home. Her mother was a stay-at-home mom and her father worked hard to provide for his two favorite ladies. Donna had a very happy and fulfilling childhood. She was very close to both her parents, and she loved to go fishing with her dad. 

Donna grew up in California, where her parents owned a fresh water tropical fish store and her dad worked as a Foreman for Challenge Cook Brothers most of her life. Donna loved to spend time at the beach with her friends and she often told of some of her favorite memories hanging out and building bonfires on the beach with her friends. She graduated from Rosemead High School in 1964 and attended Pasadena City College where she obtained her Receptionist/ Office Clerk Certificate.  Donna got a job working at Sears in the Accounting and Ordering Departments after completing college.

After college graduation, Donna’s aunt encouraged her to begin writing letters to a young service man, who had been her neighbor before he went to Vietnam. Donna began writing letters to Cecil “Mac” MacDonald while he was overseas, and they became very interested in each other. When Mac got out of the service and returned to Massachusetts, he and Donna met in person for the first time and the rest is history. They were married on November 15,1969 in Weymouth, Massachusetts. From this union five children were born. Richard, Lisa, Stacey, Tracey and Jennifer. As a young family they moved to Florida where Mac worked setting up several convenient stores and businesses. Mac got the opportunity to become a franchisee owner for 7-Eleven and the family moved to Wyoming where Mac was the operating owner/manager of two brand new stores which he helped build from the ground up. The family bought property and built a home outside of Moorcroft. Mac loved the idea of having his own small version of “Old MacDonald’s Farm” and he and his father-in-law began raising cows, pigs, chickens and horses. September 16, 1982 Mac passed away as a result from a tragic accident.  After Mac’s passing Donna moved back to California. She worked part-time for a Veterinary Clinic and then for a Hardwood Flooring Company as a Receptionist for several years.  Donna met Charles Hudson while in California and they were joined in marriage on December 19, 1998.  Donna and Charles moved back to Wyoming in 2016, where they made their home in Gillette. Donna and Charles enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren, having family get togethers at their home and spoiling their little dog Doodle. Charles passed away in 2006.

Donna never knew a stranger, she talked to everyone she met. She always reached out to those in need and tried to help everyone she could. She took several people into her home and tried to help them get on their feet. She had a huge heart, she was always kind to others, even when they didn’t deserve her kindness. Donna loved to work in her yard, planting several trees, bushes and flowers all over her property. She spent hours feeding and watching the birds in her yard. She loved animals, always taking in stray cats and dogs, she always had plenty of them around to keep her company. She loved to spend time reading, doing crossword puzzles and playing cards. She also loved to spend time with her daughter, Tracey. They would often get in the car and just take a drive to Spearfish to buy a bottle of dish soap at Wal-Mart, to Buffalo to eat lunch or down random county roads drinking a milkshake and looking at all the beauty around them. They always made their drives an adventure, always finding something to talk about, laugh about or sing about. Tracey would take her shopping or out and about to run her errands. Donna enjoyed having Tracey help her out around the house or in the yard. They always found things to keep them busy. Spending the day together playing cards, having lunch or dinner, attending community events and celebrating holidays and special days together. Donna and Tracey had a very close relationship, spending a lot of time together, they were always busy making memories. Donna was very happy when her daughter Tracey married Dwayne Pond, she loved helping Tracey plan the wedding, helping pick items out for the big day and brainstorming how to make the wedding a very special day. Donna thoroughly enjoyed sharing Tracey and Dwayne’s special day and she was delighted to be involved in every aspect of the day, it was a very special day for her and Tracey to share together. She loved spending time with Tracey and Dwayne and she always gave her new son-in-law a hard time, letting him know that she was the boss and life was played by her rules, and so were the card games they played.   Donna spent the last 2 ½ years in The Legacy Living and Rehabilitation Center as a resident of the Pine Community. Despite having dementia Donna always found joy in every day. She made several friends while at the Legacy and she always took new residents under her wing. She loved helping her new friends, visiting with them in the Community Room and joining in group activities. She was loved by the staff and her friends within the Pine Community and will be greatly missed.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Elfreda Buscaglia; her husband, Cecil “Mac” MacDonald; infant daughter, Jennifer, and her second husband, Charles Hudson. She is survived by her four children Ricky (Ranee) MacDonald of Sheridan, WY; Lisa (Mark) Griffith of Upton, WY; Stacey (Jeremy) Reynolds of Kingston, Arkansas; and Tracey (Dwayne) Pond of Gillette, WY.  Grandchildren, Brittany (Trevor) Johnson, Austin Griffith, Krystal and Sydney MacDonald, Dennis (Jerrica) Williams, Garrhett (Kelsie) Williams, Doug (Devan) Williams, Mason, Emily and Sheridan Reynolds; great-grandchildren Lincoln, Reese and Evelyn Johnson, Amareya MacDonald, Brandon and Alyssandra Wilson, and Aisley Williams. Donna was excited to gain new family members Lois and Valorie Pond, Mike, Sheila and Vance Schrimer, Ty, Nicole, Harlyn and Caddo Pond. Ty, Jesse, Emma, Elly, Eryn and Eyla Schmidt. She enjoyed learning about them, listening to stories of their lives and getting to know them. She loved the idea of having a bigger family and more great-grandkids. Donna also leaves behind several friends, former church members and her neighbors from the Pine Community at Legacy. Donna will be greatly missed by many. In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to local charities, mental health programs, the animal shelter or to the Activities Department of The Legacy Living and Rehabilitation Center. Condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 West 5^th Street, Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be expressed at www.gillettememorialchapel.com