Nancy Ann Mcdonald

Nancy Ann McDonald of Dover, 76, passed away November 29, 2020 following a battle with Covid-19. Born March 23, 1944 in Akron to the late Bruce C. and Lillian “Carter” Sackett, Nancy loved life and had a passion for art that carried from childhood throughout her life.

In 1962, Nancy graduated from Dover High School where she met her high school sweetheart, James “Jim” McDonald. They were married October 18, 1963 and together built a beautiful family and legacy. Jim and Nancy loved to travel and could often be found jet- setting on a new adventure together. In 1987, Jim and Nancy bought The Rootbeer Stand and created Fundays, a cornerstone in the community still to this day.

Among her many passions, art was at the top of the list. Nancy was an art teacher for over 40 years at her home studio, Stone Mountain Studio. She attended Miami University and Kent State Tuscarawas and completed numerous art studies. In 1992, Nancy, along with her husband Jim and daughter Jody, opened McDonald Niklaus Framing & Treasured Gifts in Dover. Prior to her art career, Nancy worked for the family business, Carter Lumber.

Nancy always had a positive effect on everyone she met by uplifting them with sentiment cards. She also carried her love for the arts into the community, helping to found the Tuscarawas County Art Guild as well as the Tuscarawas County Center for the Arts. Nancy brought her artistic spirit to numerous civic projects, including a Tuscarawas County Historical mural for Dover Middle School, the John Muir and John J. Audubon painting for the Wilderness Center, portraits of Woody Hayes and wife Anne Hayes for OSU Alumni, as well as design consulting for the Dover Ohio Bicentennial Outdoor Mural and the Lathrop Playground Design for Canton Schools.

In addition to her husband, Nancy is survived by her son, Thomas (Eileen) McDonald of Copley, OH and their daughter, Jody Niklaus of Dover, OH, four grandchildren: Colin McDonald, Sydney McDonald, Delaney Niklaus, and Sawyer Niklaus, as well as two brothers: Neil Sackett and Keith (Marilyn) Sackett. She was preceded in death by her brother Marvin Sackett.

Nancy’s life and legacy will be honored with an art show at a future date. Memorial contributions can be made to the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank, 350 Opportunity Pkwy, Akron, OH 44307. Meanwhile, we can be sure Nancy is painting her most beautiful paintings in Heaven, and they will be there for all of us to see when we join her in Glory.