Becky Lou McDonald

Becky L. McDonald, 83, of West Lafayette died Sunday, January 25, 2026, in her home in West Lafayette, Indiana. She was born June 24, 1942, in Monroe County, Indiana, to the late H Hanly Hammel and Lillian Laree (Deihl) Hammel.  Becky graduated from Klondike High School and continued enjoying the company of her classmates at monthly luncheons.

Becky drove a school bus for the Tippecanoe School Corporation for over 30 years.  She was beloved by her students and knew each one personally. Her year-end bus cleaning parties were the highlight of the year.   Her grandchildren loved seeing the school bus in her driveway.  She was known to allow them to sit in her lap while she backed up the bus to park it.

Becky loved gardening and regularly canned vegetables.  She was knowledgeable about birds, her favorite being the cardinal.  Despite the cardinal’s color, Becky was a die-hard Purdue fan who regularly bled gold and black.  She and her late husband, John, were members of the John Purdue Club and regulars in Section 128 for many years.  Purdue basketball was another passion, and she rarely missed a televised game.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, John McDonald; her daughter, Brenda McDonald; her parents, H Hanly Hammel and Lillian Laree (Deihl) Hammel; and her sister, Jenny (Hammel) Isaacs. Surviving are her children, David R. McDonald (Lisa LeFante) of Apex, NC, and Douglas H. McDonald (Judy) of Canton, MI, and her grandchildren, Trevor and Megan Oaks, Kylie and Luke McDonald, and Bryce and Brooke McDonald. Visitation will be on Friday, January 30th, 2026, from 10:00-11:00 am with an Eastern Star service beginning at 10:50 am prior to the service at 11:00 am at Soller-Baker Lafayette Chapel, 400 Twyckenham Blvd. Burial will be at Sand Ridge Cemetery. Those who wish may contribute to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.