He was born in Kansas City, Missouri to Lee and Virginia McElroy.
Left to cherish Donnie's memory: his children, Dayna Valdes and her husband Victor, Dionne Sanderson and her husband Sam and son, Justin McElroy; his grandchildren, Colton and Caleb Sanderson and Andre Black; sisters, Diane Day and Debbie Rodick; stepbrothers, Bill and Bobby Taylor and a host of other loving family and friends.