Austin – Emily Elizabeth McDonald, 26, passed away January 8, 2023 at her home in Austin, Texas after a lengthy and courageous battle with osteosarcoma. What Emily’s life lacked in length of years was eclipsed by an abundance of great joy, profound love, and unshakeable faith. Although her bravery in the face of adversity was inspiring to all who knew her, Emily was not defined by the disease that took her life. She was a treasured daughter, granddaughter, sister, and friend who will be remembered, above all else, for her exuberant spirit, her unfailing kindness and loyalty, and her sharp wit.
Emily was born July 24, 1996 in Renton, WA. She grew up in Goldendale, WA and Corpus Christi, TX and was a 2014 graduate of Flour Bluff High School. She attended Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and completed a degree in Kinesiology at Texas Tech University in 2019 as a member of the sorority, Delta Delta Delta. After graduation, Emily relocated to Austin to be near friends and her beloved Corpus Christi beaches and had aspirations to return to school to pursue Physical Therapy.
Emily had a great love of travel and adventure. She took every opportunity she could to visit beautiful places and make memories with the extensive family and many friends she had throughout the country. She was blessed to belong to the sisterhood of a tight-knit group of friends who saw each other through everything from their pre-teen years to adulthood, who rallied around her during her arduous cancer battle, and who are forever bonded by their commitment to keeping her memory alive.
Emily leaves to cherish her memory here on Earth, her mother, Linda McDonald (Buck Belden) and father, Corbett McDonald, brother, Matthew McDonald, grandparents, Gary and Lorraine Myers and Lewis and Joni Marler, her bonus family in Corpus Christi, Leo and Nicole Ruiz and their daughters, Braque, Fiona and Phoebe and many aunts, uncles and cousins. Emily was deeply loved and will be missed by all who knew her, but we take great comfort in knowing that she is whole and at peace and that we will be reunited with her one day in Heaven.
A private prayer service and rosary will be held at 11 am, Saturday, January 21, 2023 at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 5620 Gollihar Rd. in Corpus Christi followed at 4:30 pm by a public Celebration of Life at the Briscoe Pavillion, 15820 Park Road 22 in Corpus Christi. Funeral Services will be held in Spokane, WA on February 18, 2023.
Deliveries of flowers may be made to the care of Leo and Nicole Ruiz, 318 Haroldson Drive, Corpus Christi, TX 78412. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Emily’s memory to an osteosarcoma research organization of your choice.