Russalee Essary

Russalee Virginia Essary (McDonald)
Sunrise: January 17th, 1933 - Sunset: February 2nd, 2023

Russalee Virginia Essary (McDonald) came into this world on Tuesday, January 17th, 1933 to Russell and Nathalie McDonald, her loving parents. Through all of the adventures she experienced in her life, they brought her to put down roots in Texas.

She met and married the love of her life, Henry Essary; they were proudly together for 67 years, 3 months, and 10 days...Russalee always remembered their time together!

Her life revolved around her family. She and Henry brought up 5 children together: Darrel (Robin) Essary, Cameron (Tana) Essary , Mark (Cheryl) Essary, Maerene (Lloyd) Yoder (Essary), and Nathania Morehead (Essary) who survive her and she is also survived by her sister, Nadine (McDonald) Spence. Their children went on to bless them with 26 grandchildren, 90 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great-grandchildren.

Her passions were varied, from singing and playing board games to full-on parties with the grandkids at her house! She also loved trying new recipes, as well as needlework to create art to fill her time and home. Homemaking was her calling, and she was happy to be able to experience the growth of her beloved children and the families they went on to build for themselves.

Russalee is preceded in death by her beloved husband, brother Charles McDonald, her sister Lorene (McDonald) Chasco, as well as two great-grandchildren, Kassandra St. Yves and Hana Fullmer. She will surely be missed by friends and family alike, knowing that time spent with her was a gift to them all.

Interment will be at the National Memorial Cemetery @ 23029 N Cave Creek Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85024 on Friday March 17 at 12:30 pm.
Memorial Service will be Saturday March 18 at 2:00 pm @  31844 N. Ganzel Rd. San Tan Valley, Az. 85143