Feb. 28, 1972-Aug. 23, 2022
Traci Hinton McDonald, born Traci Hinton, to Lynn and Linda Hinton on Feb. 28, 1972, passed away peacefully at home in Ivins, Utah, on Aug. 23, 2022. Traci grew up in Hurricane, Utah, with her parents and five siblings. She was the second oldest child in her family and oldest daughter. At the age of 8 she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, which proved to be a tough lifelong battle.
Traci loved the outdoors and talked her dad into taking her camping, hiking and deer hunting with the boys. She was a daddy’s girl through and through. They shared a common bond, both being diabetics, and she loved him and relied on him. She lost her dad to his own battle with diabetes her junior year of high school, which was so very difficult for her and the family. She graduated from Hurricane High School in May 1990 and then went on to attend Dixie College to study psychology.
After earning her associate’s degree, she was ready to spread her wings and fly. When she learned she could make good money and move far from home being a nanny in New York, she pursued that dream wholeheartedly. This turned out to be a special time for her as she discovered who she was and who she wanted to be. Her time in New York rekindled her love of the Savior, Jesus Christ and His gospel.
When she returned home from New York, she decided to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She was called to serve in the Fresno, California, Spanish-speaking mission. She served there faithfully from 1995-1996.
She met Erik McDonald shortly after returning home from California and fell head over heels in love. Erik was all in, even knowing all her health problems and what that might mean for their future. They were a match made in heaven and were sealed for time and all eternity in the St. George LDS temple on Nov. 29, 1997.
Traci and Erik were blessed with a healthy, though premature, baby boy, Zackery McDonald on March 25, 2000. After Zack was born, they pursued adoption as a way to grow their family. Joshua Abubakar McDonald joined the family on Oct. 7, 2005. He was sealed to them in the St. George LDS temple on Feb. 4, 2006. Then Kaison McDonald was born on Dec. 3, 2004.
Her family and faith were everything to Traci and this is where she spent her time and energy. She served diligently in her church callings and especially loved serving with the youth and primary children.
As her boys grew and went to school, she began to pursue her writing career. Traci has always had a beautiful gift for writing and storytelling, and, although she was completely blind by this time, she began writing novels. She published three books. She also filled her time with volunteer work with the National Federation of the Blind. She loved the people she served and worked with there.
Over the years, her health issues became more serious. She lost her eyesight and kidneys, and yet, she lived a full life and never let her physical disabilities stop her from doing the things she loved. She eventually had a pancreas transplant from an organ donor and was able to connect with the family, mourn their loss with them and thank them for their life-saving gift.
Traci had a talent for connecting with others, really listening to people, and helping them feel loved. She touched more lives than she can possibly know with her strength, courage, and faith. Traci will be missed so very much.
She is preceded in death by her father Lynn Hinton, her mother and father-in-law Mary Margret and Frank McDonald, her brother-in-law Sean McDonald and grandparents.
She is survived by her husband Erik; her sons Joshua, Zackery (Jamee) and Kaison; her mother Linda Rawlinson; her siblings Rob Hinton (Kirsten), Matt Hinton, (Jenny), Kamarie Gardiner (Jon), ShaeLyn Loperena (Mark), Chad Hinton (Kendra); Erik’s siblings Denise Halladay, Thomas Scott McDonald (Nannette), Cheyne McDonald (Suzan), Yvonne Campbell (Scott), Chad McDonald (Brook), Ian McDonald (Isabel) and sister-in-law Christine Newtown and her many nieces and nephews.
Services will be held Monday, Aug. 29, at 260 E. 1060 S. Ivins, Utah. There will be an open house from 9:30-10:30 a.m. with funeral services to follow at 10:30 am. A family luncheon will be provided at the church after services
There will be no viewing and no graveside services.
Condolences may be shared on the McMillan Mortuary website.