Scott Hamilton McDonald

Scott Hamilton McDonald, age 43, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, August 30, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas. He was born on September 5, 1980 to his parents Robert Lester and Kathryn Joyce (McIntyre) McDonald.

Scott was a fighter, in the best sense of the word. His sisters and cousins were his first opponents. His childhood was full of exploring woods, fishing, swimming, running barefoot, and picking sticker burrs out of his feet. Scott’s fighting instinct also gave him his life force, and he took it into sports. He was a standout athlete as a youth. He finished his career as a top-rated linebacker in San Antonio and was pivotal in leading his team to a district championship his senior year. Scott also separated himself from the pack in basketball and track. His competitive spirit drove him to success no matter what sport he chose to pick up. Scott graduated from John Marshall High School in 1999.

He attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock and graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems. As he grew up, Scott learned to be gentle but never lost his fighting, brilliant spirit, and that is how he is remembered as an adult. He had an incredible ability to bring together friends from different areas of his life and create bonds between each of them. Whether it be a pick-up basketball game in his backyard, a LAN party in his bedroom, concerts around town, or just hanging with friends at the lake—people gravitated toward him and in turn created lifelong friendships amongst each other.

After college Scott got a job at Frost Bank, where his dad had also worked for 38 years. He was a Senior Application Systems Engineer, and his coworkers have glowing things to say about him. They comment on his dedication, empathy, and ability to manage stressful situations with ease. In his free time, Scott spent much of his time playing music. Starting with learning to play songs on the guitar from a Green Day album, he ultimately created a full studio in his home and even got out of his comfort zone with the occasional country tune.

Scott met Tara Hamm on July 8, 2018 and knew they were soulmates from the moment they met. They married on July 9, 2022 and they spent 6 beautiful years together. He brought his bird Beaker and Tara brought her cat Benny into the marriage, and they adopted a dog Lacy 3 years ago. They loved eating out and just spending time together, but they also loved traveling. Over the years they visited some of Scott’s favorite destinations: Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, Walt Disney World, and Neches where he spent much of his childhood catching fish and running barefoot.

In death Scott joins his mother Kathryn Joyce McDonald and his bloodhound Duncan. Left to celebrate his life are his beloved wife Tara Lynn Hamm; his father, Robert “Bob” McDonald and wife Bette Thull; sister, Heather McDonald Lotts and husband Gary Lotts; sister Laura Kathryn McDonald and husband Mario Peralta; his nieces and nephews Josie McKenna Lotts, Gavin Robert Lotts, Braden Walker Lotts, and Mei McDonald; and many other extended family members, good friends, and coworkers.

Scott’s mother was also a fighter; she was a black belt in Kung Fu. As was written in her obituary, a good fighter knows when to surrender gracefully. As a good fighter, we his family trust Scott to teach us to surrender gracefully to life without his brilliant, fighting spirit. Rest in peace, Scooter Bear. You are very loved.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., Friday, September 6, 2024, at Porter Loring Mortuary North.

FUNERAL SERVICEFRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 202411:00 AMPORTER LORING MORTUARY NORTH2102 NORTH LOOP 1604 EAST

A private interment will be held by the family in Neches Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Scott to SNIPSA, Inc. animal rescue or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.