Annie “Laura” Harris MacDonald, 93, of Rochester, passed away peacefully at 3:06 A.M. Friday, May 31, 2024 at her residence.
She was born on November 5, 1930 in Guntersville, Alabama, the ninth of twelve children to Joshua Gaines and Mattie (Maze) Harris. On December 19, 1956 in Greensboro, North Carolina, she married Gary Edal MacDonald who preceded her in death on July 21, 2021.
Annie graduated from Bessemer High School in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1948 as class valedictorian and graduated from the University of North Carolina Greensboro (Formerly Women’s College) with a degree in elementary education. Annie taught at many schools over the years, including Rochester Community Schools, before retiring from North Miami Elementary School in 1987. During the summer months, she assisted her husband in his printing business as the “Navigator” traveling across the United States.
Annie was also very active in church, where she not only was a helper to her husband’s ministry, but most importantly had a servant's heart for teaching others about Christ, especially children's Sunday School classes. She and her husband moved to Maine as missionaries and continued in that ministry for many years before returning to Indiana to be closer to family. In 2021, they returned to Rochester and continued worshiping at the Rochester Church of Christ. In her spare time, she enjoyed traveling with her husband, birdwatching, and in later years, reading and word search puzzles.
Survivors include her children, Lisa (Ken) Hooley, Tippecanoe, Indiana; Laurie (Ray) Hedington, Rochester, Indiana; grandchildren, Jonathan (Angela) Buzbee, Maine; Naomi (Joe) McKinley, Indiana; Mary Moore, Maine; Joshua (Jamie) Hooley, Iowa; Amber (Kevin) Belisle, Ohio; Aric (Melody) Hooley, Indiana; Nathan Hooley, Indiana; Seth (Samantha) MacDonald, Indiana; Sara (Luis) Ramos, Texas; Rachael (Howard) Ray, New Hampshire; Jessica MacDonald, Texas; Brant (Gentry) Hedington, Indiana; Cameron (Maranda) Hedington, Indiana; thirty three great grandchildren, sister, Jean Talley, Greensboro, North Carolina, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Michael Gary MacDonald (son), Billie Jo Buzbee (daughter), Shelton Carpenter (grandson) and ten brothers and sisters.
No services are scheduled at this time.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Rochester Church of Christ for Children Ministries.
Arrangements by Zimmerman Bros. Funeral Home, Rochester, Indiana.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.zimmermanbrosfh.com
