Clara Bell McDonald was born on January 6, 1934 on the Mabee family farm just north of Golden City, Missouri to Roscoe and Elva Lena (Mabee) Leivan. She passed into eternal rest January 23, 2022 at Good Shepherd Community Care and Rehabilitation facility in Lockwood, Missouri where she had been a resident for a little over three years.
Clara Bell graduated in the Golden City Class of 1951 and married Claude Lee McDonald on May 3, 1951 in Bentonville, Arkansas. He preceded her in death on December 24, 1994. She was a farm wife, homemaker, mother and the OATS bus driver for Barton and Dade counties for 20 years. She enjoyed traveling, reading, coloring and had a massive collection of turtles. She was a lifelong member of the Lamar Assembly of God Church and also enjoyed worshiping with the Grace Pentecostal Church in Golden City, Missouri. She was a prayer warrior, a caregiver, a true and faithful servant of God. She also volunteered with the Red Cross Blood Drives, was a member of Stone WPFA Club, enjoyed her time at the Lamar Senior Citizens Center and was an election judge for several years.
She is survived by her four children; Gregory Lee and wife Renae McDonald of Golden City, Johnia Jill and husband Dan Peters of Lamar, Bethany Jayne and husband, Mike Babbitt of Lamar and Todd Ray and wife Cathy McDonald of Lamar, her grandchildren who affectionately called her "Grandma Jingle Bell"; Micah (Shawnda) McDonald, Mitch (Tasha) McDonald, Michelle (Chase) Miller, Levi (Amy) Peters, Lindsey Williams, Lisa Peters, Annie Hawes (Davey Crockett), Carla Stepp, Ben (Rachell) Stepp, Brooke (Taylor) Overman and Brett McDonald (Madison Baldwin). She loved visits from the ones who called her "Grandma Great"; Desiree, Madison, Mason, Marrisa, Tatin, Tristan, Cloe, Joseph, Jackson, Tyler, Tyanna, Ayden, Corbin, Stephen, Rhett and Walker, along with the great-great grandchildren; Myla and Ava. She is also survived by her siblings; Mary Ann Wade of Joplin, Leona Camp of Lamar and Roger Leivan of Webb City and sister-in-law, Mary Ann Leivan along with many nieces and nephews and cousins.
Clara Bell was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and four brothers; J.R. Leivan, Alvin Leivan, Derald Leivan and Frank Leivan.
Clara Bell also leaves behind all those who became family to her at Good Shepherd. Thank you for loving and caring for our Mother.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, January 29, 2022, at Daniel Funeral Home with burial to follow in I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Golden City, MO.
Contributions are suggested and made payable to the Barton County Senior Citizens Center in care of Daniel Funeral Home.
Condolences may be shared at www.dfhlamar.com
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