Obituary of Deborah Moira Miaghread McDonald-Welch

Deborah Móira Máighréad McDonald-Welch went home to be with the Lord on March 15, 2018 after losing a courageous battle with cancer. She was born in Asheville, North Carolina to W. Leon McDonald and Jewel G. McDonald. At the age of 10 her family moved to Bryson City, North Carolina where she graduated from Swain County High School. She moved to Waynesville, North Carolina in December 1969 and began attending South Western Technical College. She graduated from the Practical Nursing Program in 1971 and began a nursing career that lasted until 1990 when she obtained her two-year Associate Degree as a Registered Nurse. She was an honor graduate and was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa. She worked in a large teaching hospital in Asheville, NC until late 1992. She moved to Washington State at the end of 1992 and began a new phase of her nursing career with the Sisters of Providence Health System. In 1999 she enrolled in the University of Washington to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree. She graduated as an honor student in June 2001, being selected for Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Society and Golden Key International Honor Society. During her nursing career which lasted until late 2016, she worked in a variety of settings as staff nurse, charge nurse, and mentor. She gave 45 years of her life to serving others. She was forced to retire upon learning she had cancer. Moira was an advocate for patients and families, well respected by her peers and physicians. She embraced a holistic concept of healing in her practice. An avid lover of animals, especially cats, she owned many Siamese cats over the years including on special needs cat. Her cats were like children to her. A devout Christian, she had been active in church since childhood. She boldly shared the gospel to others and loved the old hymns from her childhood which she often sang especially while undergoing chemotherapy. She was a member of Grace Baptist Church in Rochester, WA where she had lived for many years. An accomplished pianist, she loved playing special music for the church. She loved gardening and creative writing. She is survived by her husband Calvin Daniel Welch, one daughter Noel Paul and a son-in-law Bill Paul of Battle Ground, Washington, a brother David L McDonald of Bryson City, NC, niece Crystal Hall of Almond, NC, nephew Zachary L McDonald of Bryson City, NC, niece Heather McDonald of Bryson City, two great nephews and a great niece and several cousins in Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at 1:00 pm Saturday, April 28, 2018 at Crisp Funeral Home. Burial will be at Bryson City Cemetery in Bryson City, North Carolina. Should friends and family desire, contributions may be sent to West Columbia Gorge Humane Society, PO Box 270, Washougal, WA 98671 in honor of Moira's love for animals.