Teofiele “Teo” Zacharias McDonald 1941 - 2026 BHS Class of 1960
Tom Estes
Teofiele “Teo” (Zacharias) McDonald, age 85, of Farmersville, Texas, passed away on April 2, 2026.
She was born on January 31, 1941, in Kahlhugel, Germany, to Friedrich and Alwine (Timm) Zacharias. Teo immigrated with her family from Germany at age 11, making the two-week journey aboard the American Naval transport ship USS General C. C. Ballou. They arrived in the Port of New Orleans on May 12, 1952. They were sponsored by St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, Texas under the Displaced Persons Act of 1948 following World War II and made their home in Bishop, Texas.
She attended grade school at St. Paul Lutheran School and graduated from Bishop High School in 1960. After marrying, she ultimately settled in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1969, where she lived until 2022, when she moved to Denton, Texas to be closer to her family. She was a homemaker and caregiver all of her life, a role that suited her well.
Teo was a devoted member of the Lutheran faith. She was a member St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop as a child and was confirmed there. She was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church in Calallen, Texas from its creation. She participated in Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and other lay groups while attending church there. Upon moving to Denton, she became a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Denton and remained so until her passing.
She volunteered at Tuloso-Midway schools while her children and grandchildren attended school there and was a familiar presence to students and teachers. Later, she could be spotted behind the snack bar at Skateland West in Annaville. In her later years, she worked as a Senior Companion with the City of Corpus Christi providing companionship to the elderly in the community.
Teo was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Adolph Zacharias, Eduard Zacharias, and Gerhard Zacharias; and her sister, Lydia (Zacharias) Neils.
She is survived by her daughter, Tammy (McDonald) Hodges of Denton; her sons, Bruan “Dane” McDonald of Haltom City, Texas; and Tannen McDonald and his wife, Monica of Keller, Texas; and her cherished grandchildren, Taylor (McDonald) Pritchett and her husband, Dustin of North Richland Hills, Texas; Lance McDonald and his wife, Mackenzie of Benbrook, Texas; Deanna (Hodges) Phillips and her husband, Ivy of Surprise, Arizona; Matthew Hodges of Minden, Louisiana; Brock McDonald of Norman, Oklahoma; and Brady McDonald of Norman; and her sister-in-law, Patricia Zacharias of San Antonio, Texas. She also leaves behind eight beloved great-grandchildren, Skylar, Ember, Joshua, Aero, Colbie, Clyde, Harbor, and Sawyer; and her sweet Dachshund companion, Jackson.
Teo will be remembered for her feistiness and sense of humor. She touched many lives and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
The family would like to thank her many caregivers at Lexington Medical Lodge in Farmersville for their excellent care and professionalism and the staff of Centric Hospice who cared for her at the end of her life. The family would also like to express immense gratitude to Pastor Russ Tieken (ret.) and Elder Gary Heldman and his wife Robbie for continuing to provide compassionate pastoral care to her until her last day.
Services will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bishop, Texas, on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow at St. Paul Cemetery in Concordia, Texas. Pastor Thomas Thiernfelder and Pastor Emeritus Alston Kirk will preside.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in her honor to St. Paul Lutheran Church and School, 801 E. Main St., Bishop, Texas 78343.
[Thank you to Sharon Zieschang for providing this info.]