OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 56, 4 September 1944, Page 5

OBITUARY

mrs. t. McDonald.

I Friends throughout New Zealand will regret to learn of the death of Mrs. Agnes Allan McDonald, widow of the" Rev. Thomas McDonald, formerly a well-known minister of the Presby- [ terian Church of New Zealand. Mrs. McDonald had not been robust for some years, but she died rather unexpectedly after a very short illness. She was born in Alexandra, Central Otago, where her father was a farmer and land valuer. Her brother,' the. late Dr. William Chappell, was for some years member of the House of Representatives for Tuapeka, and later was member for Dumfriesshire and Stirling in the British House of Commons, during the last war. After her marriage to the Rev. Thomas McDonald, a Scotsman whose first charge in New Zealand was in Petone, Mrs. McDonald lived for some years in the North Island at Waverley, Hawera, and Waipukurau. The family came to Christchurch in 1904, when Mr. McDonald was appointed minister of St. Peter's Church, Ferry Road, and he remained in this charge until 1919, when failing health necessitated his relinquishing his duties. He moved to Sefton, where he lived in semi-retire-ment until his death, about two years later. Mrs. McDonald then returned to Christchurch, and lived for many years at "The Grange," Opawa, but more recently ,she occupied a flat in the city. She was a staunch supporter of Prohibition, and she took a keen and practical interest in church activities and in welfare work in the different parishes in which her husband ministered. Knitting for men of the Merchant Navy occupied much of her time since the outbreak of war. Mrs McDonald had a gift for friendship and she retained, until her death, the warm regard of many amongst whom she had lived during her husband's lifetime. She is survived by one daughterMrs. Rex Warren, of Melbourne—and three sons—Messrs. W. A. C. McDonald and T. W. McDonald, of Christchurch and Mr: D. C. McDonald, of Palmerston North. Lady McGavin (Wellington) Mrs. E. Feist Auckland), and Mrs. Temple (Melbourne) are sisters.