Jenifer Lyn McDonald, 47, of Pittsburg, died September 9, 2023, of a sudden illness. Born February 13, 1976, in Pittsburg, Jenifer was the daughter of Captain James L. and Barbara Williams Hurt. She had lived in Pittsburg for most of her life. She graduated with honors in 1994 from Frontenac High School. She received her Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from Pittsburg State University in 1998 and received her Master’s of Business Administration from PSU in 1999, received her Masters of Human Resource Development from PSU in 2022.
Jenifer and Christopher D. McDonald were united in marriage July 6, 2002, at the Victory Life Center in Pittsburg. He survives at the home in Pittsburg.
She was the training coordinator for Crawford County Mental Health Department for the past seven months, had worked at Ascension Via Christi, Greenbush, Depco and Egon Zender in Dallas, Texas.
Jenifer was baptized at the First Christian Church in Pittsburg, was a Pittsburg Woman of Distinction in 2017, was a member of Phi Tau Omega Sorority Theta Epsilon Chapter where she held all national and local offices, served as president of Hope for MS, Civic Health Hero, president of southeast Kansas Human Resource Association, Past President of the Frontenac Rotary Club, Frontenac Education Foundation, friends of Pittsburg Public Library past President, Pittsburg Lions Club, Mother to Mother Ministry, Frontenac Library Board, and secured many grants to improve lives of those suffering from mental illness.
Jenifer is survived by her husband Chris McDonald of the home, a son Camden McDonald of Pittsburg, her mother Barbara Hurt of Pittsburg, two sisters Heather Spaur (Marc McCully) of Frontenac and Lee Ann Gazi (Kenan) of London, England; and one brother James Hurt of Pittsburg. Her brother-in-law Brandon Spaur (Michelle Alt) of Pittsburg, two nieces Zehra Gazi of London and Madison Spaur of Frontenac, numerous aunts, uncles and cousins also survive.
Memorial services will be 10 a.m. Monday September 18 at the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home, 522 S. Broadway in Pittsburg. Peter Mayo, will officiate. Urn bearers will be Camden McDonald, Chris McDonald, James Hurt, Kenan Gazi, Marc McCully and Brandon Spaur. Inurnment will be in the Frontenac City Cemetery. The family will receive their friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, September 17 at the funeral home. A memorial has been established in her memory to the Frontenac Education Foundation in care of the Bath-Naylor Funeral Home. A luncheon will be served following services at the Frontenac American Legion Post. Condolences may be left at our web site www.bathnaylor.com