Huey Elton McDonald Jr.

Huey Elton McDonald, Jr. of Garden Ridge, Texas, passed away on March 16, 2026, at the age of 90. He was born on March 2, 1936, in Orangefield, Texas and grew up in Beaumont, Texas, in a loving Christian family.

He graduated from Lamar College in 1959 with a degree in Mathematics. He then joined the United States Air Force and served with distinction in Vietnam where he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He retired with the rank of Lt. Colonel. He enjoyed a second career managing small airports and became known as the toughest local FAA flight examiner. When he became too old to fly commercially, he embarked on a third career with the Garden Ridge Citizen Police Academy, training and organizing the Citizens on Patrol group, logging more hours behind the wheel than any other member.

He was “born with wings” and loved everything aviation, including building model planes, building planes, and flying planes, accumulating over 25,000 hours of flight time. With his most recent career, he spent time improving his shooting proficiency. All those who worked alongside him agree that he “could always be counted on to come through when needed and do so with a smile and witty repartee to fit the occasion”.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Huey Elton McDonald, Sr. And Ruth McDonald, and brother, Richard Linn McDonald.

He is survived by his loving wife of 70 years, Mary Jo Purks McDonald, and daughters Dara Lenee McDonald Boone (Stephen Boone) and Jana Lerice McDonald Jordan (John Jordan) and four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.