Rosa Lee Donald Mahler

TAMPA, FL / MANTACHIE, MS – Rosa’s story began on June 25, 1937, in the home of George Murl and Magdalene Thompson Donald in the Randolph community of Pontotoc County, Mississippi.  Through her life she answered to many names: “Lala,” “Rosie,” “Sweetie,” and “Ma” are some that come to mind. She was a “cotton-picking” farm girl until the early 50s when the family moved to Harriman, Tennessee. As a teen, she professed her faith in Jesus Christ and matured into the most caring person ever known. She was more concerned in the other person’s welfare than her own. She loved Christian fellowship, flowers, and little children.  Crocheting and reading were her pastime activities when she wasn’t traveling. Rosa loved to entertain people with stories, card games, and delicious banana pudding.

Rosa graduated from Harriman High School as salutatorian of her class, Middle Tennessee State University as Magna Cum Laude, and obtained her CPA through Memphis State University. In her professional life, she was associated with several firms in Memphis, Tennessee, in the accounting field. After 25 years, she retired from the Memphis Area Transit Authority in 1997 as the director of finance. She met the love of her life there when a tall, dark, and handsome Bob Mahler came into her office and introduced himself.  They married in November 1979, and she became the proud bonus mother to his four children.

Rosa’s story ended February 3, 2024, at Lifepath Hospice House in Sun City Center, Florida, when God called her to her eternal home after a prolonged heart and lung illness.

Rosa is preceded in death by her parents, George Murl and Magdalene Thompson Donald; sister, Evangeline Donald Harrison; brother, Thomas Riley Donald; and brother-in-law, William Dennis Harrison.

The family she leaves to mourn her passing and make their memories forever treasures are as follows: husband of 43 years, Robert Trankley Mahler of Lithia, FL; her bonus children, Robert T. Mahler, Jr. (Holly) of Boerne, TX, Margaret Wagster (Marvin) of Franklin, TN, Candice Inman (David) of Lithia, FL, and Shirley Smith (Tim) of Collierville, TN; 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; brothers, Witt Will Donald (Polly)  of Jackson, TN, and Joe Kennan Donald (Lillemor) of Naples, FL; sister, Brenda Donald Elam (Phillip) of Brentwood, TN; sister-in-law, Denise Donald of Sevierville, TN; a special aunt, Ruth Donald Rasberry of Tupelo, MS; 4 nieces, 3 nephews, several great-nieces and great-nephews; and Donald and Thompson cousins.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons Ben Wagster, Matt Remmert, Lee Smith, Mark Smith, and Trankley Mahler, and nephew Justin Elam.

A celebration of Rosa’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 10, 2024, at the McNeece-Morris Funeral Home Chapel in Mantachie, Mississippi.  The services will be led by Don Barber and Randy Satterfield.  Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until service time.  She will be interred in Walton Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN  38105, or to a charity of your choice.

Condolences may be shared with Rosa’s family at www.mcneecemorrisfuneralhome.com.

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