Letitia Heaney of Bay City
Letitia was born at 8.30am on Friday, 27 March 1891 at 39 Back Street, Renton, Dumbarton. Her father registered her birth on 14 April 1891. The Registrar was Duncan Shaw.
Lettie studied to become a Nurse. She emigrated to Canada in 1911, aged 20. She sailed from Glasgow to Quebec. Later she moved to the United States. The 14th Census of the USA was held on 10 January 1920 and records the residents of Ward 4, Bay City, Michigan. Lettie is noted as a boarder at the home of James Connell and his wife, both born in Ireland. She gives her age as 25 (she is 28) and born in Scotland, entering the USA in 1916. Her employment is as a Nurse. At one time she was a nurse to Henry Ford to motor magnate. Lettie must have visited Scotland in 1926. She is recorded as a passenger on the SS “Minnesota” sailing from Southampton on 9 September 1926, arriving in Quebec, Canada, on 17 September. Her age is given as 35, born in Renton, Scotland, single and employed as a Nurse. The ship’s manifest records her destination as Washington DC.
The April 1930 Census of Bay City, Michigan, again records her as single, living at the home of Laurence and Martha Biesi. She is employed as a Graduate Nurse, Private Duty. She gives her age as 36 (she would be 39), born in Scotland, that both parents were born in Ireland.
Letty married in the United States, to Howard Neil MacDonald of Bay City, Michigan. He was born in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada on 2 July 1890. He enlisted during the 1st World War on 4 May 1917. He is recorded as single, tall, of stout build with blue eyes and red hair. He was employed in a lumber company and had a dependent mother.
Letty and Howard married in the mid-thirties and twins, Letitia Jean MacDonald and Patricia Ann MacDonald, were born in 1935.
Leticia & Patricia MacDonald
Leticia & Patricia MacDonald
Letitia Junior (Tish) graduated from Aquinas College with a BA in Education and taught in Grand Rapids, Alpena and Buena Vista for many years. She was an accomplished artist, photographer and card designer. In retirement she enjoyed these activities, travelling and the many friendships she shared. She had a special bond with Margaret Jeffries granddaughter of Sarah Heaney. She became a Nun and passed away peacefully at Sparrow Hospice on November 27, 2015, surrounded by family and friends. She had no children.
Leticia MacDonald
Patricia married twice. Firstly to John Leon Goodman (1927 -2018) they had 2 children Annie Goodman and Stuart Goodman. Patricia later married Richard McKenna (1927 – 2015)
In the 1940 Census of Bay City, Michigan, Howard is recorded as a book keeper. A year before the War, Letty sailed from Montreal to Liverpool on the “Duchess of Bedford”, arriving in Liverpool on 25 June 1938. She was then married and her age was given as 49 (she was 47). She also made a visit to in Scotland after the end of the Second World War, in the late 1940s.
Howard Neal McDonald died in Bay City, Michigan, on 15 July 1947 aged 57.
Leticia Heaney
Lettie McDonald (nee Heaney) died on 6 August 1981 in Bay City, Bay, Michigan. Her correct date of birth was given (27 March 1891); she would have been 90. Her last residence is listed as 48706 Bay City. Social Security No: 375-34-0244.
