A native of Brookhaven, Mississippi and longtime resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Margaret Kathryn Foster McDonald passed away on April 11, 2021. She was 81 years old.
Born December 12, 1939, she was the daughter of the late Robert and Elena Foster … a Baptist minister and devoted homemaker who worked the land to provide for their seven children. From humble beginnings, Kathryn and her siblings attended the Fair Oak Springs school … a one-room schoolhouse in Lincoln County that operated from 1927 to 1960.
Kathryn relocated to Baton Rouge in the 1960s and married the late Merritt E. McDonald Sr. in 1968. A talented hair stylist throughout her youth, who once studied with Vidal Sassoon in New York, she put her career on hold to be a devoted mother … raising four step-children and one daughter.
A passion for plants prompted Kathryn to study horticulture at LSU in the late 1970s, and to work as a landscape designer and project manager while living abroad in Saudi Arabia during the 1980s.  Following her return to the United States, she attained her Agricultural Business degree in 1989 and went on to manage several successful businesses.

Kathryn enjoyed spending time with her family and grandchildren who she loved more than anything.  She was a fantastic lady and will always be remembered with a smile on her face and sparkles in her eyes.  She taught her children and grandchildren so much every day, but the best thing was that no matter what happens in this wild world and unexpected life…put on a smile and keep going.
After retirement Kathryn looked forward to spending more time with her grandchildren, and finally having time to tend to her own garden.
She is survived by her daughter, Kristine McDonald Nastasi and husband John Nastasi Jr.; and her step-children, Merritt McDonald Jr. and wife Yvonne, Kathleen McDonald Willams and husband Aulick, Maxee McDonald Pugh and husband William; grandchildren Kathryn, Joseph, Sara Grace and Rebecca Nastasi, Jennifer Dobrowolski, Meghan McDonald Sonnier, Trey, Dale and Ashton Williams, Chris Panknin, Laura Pugh Wilson.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Robert “Skeet” Foster Jr.; nephew, Patrick Foster; former spouse, Merritt McDonald Sr.; daughter, Ethel Juliet Dobrowolski; parents, Robert and Elena Foster.

Kathryn requested a cremation and that we scatter her ashes in one of her favorite places.  We will be holding a Celebration of Life on Saturday September 18^th 11 a.m. at VFW in Brookhaven, Mississippi.