Gerald Evander McDonald

Gerald E. (Jerry) McDonald, 82 of Sun City, Georgetown, Texas, went to be with the Lord on August 7, 2012. He was born on November 18, 1929 in Battle Creek, Michigan to Orlando and Catherine McDonald. He spent his formative years in St. Joseph, Missouri before moving to California as a teenager. He was drafted from UCLA into the US Army to serve in the Korean War as an Artillery Spotter Plane Pilot. Following Korea in 1954, Jerry’s great skill and love for flying led him to immediately join the California Air National Guard. Jerry met his first and only love of his life, Audrey Jean Merten, in April 1955, graduated from UCLA College of Business Administration in July, and married Audrey in November. Jerry graduated from Advanced Officer Training School in Ft. Sill, Oklahoma in 1961. While living in California, in 1964, he was called back to active duty to serve during the Watts Riots. Jerry retired from the United States Army as Lt. Colonel on November 18, 1989. Jerry was respected and admired by all who served with and under him. He was considered the consummate officer and gentleman. In the business world, Jerry was equally well respected and admired. He spent his professional career successfully managing Retail, Service, Construction and Manufacturing Companies. One of his businesses, ITT Pneumotive, developed the first oil-less air compressor for use in critically clean medical, laboratory, and beverage systems like McDonald’s restaurants. In 1985, he retired from ITT Corp as a division level chief executive to start the first successful Northeast Louisiana Business Incubation Center. He quickly became known within the banking community for making the seemingly impossible possible. In 1989, he also assumed directing responsibility of Northeast Louisiana Industries. He was largely responsible for raising $40 million in financing for rural small businesses that helped create hundreds of jobs. In 1994, he was honored as Louisiana’s Financial Services Advocate by Gov. Edwin Edwards and the state Department of Economic Development. He moved with his wife Audrey to Sun City Georgetown in 1997 where he joined the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce’s Retired Executives Committee and served as chairman. Jerry loved building radio controlled airplanes, swimming, long walks, traveling, and supporting his wife, Audrey’s, active involvement in the Republican Party. Jerry is preceded in death by his 3 day old infant daughter in March 1961, Christine, and his 52 year old son David in March 2011 following a battle with ALS. Jerry is survived by his wife of 56 years, his children, Nancy, Margaret Holloway, and Bruce and wife Laurie; his grandchildren William Holloway, Jonathan and Mary McDonald; along with numerous other loving family members and friends. A memorial service will be held at The Worship Place at Sun City Georgetown on September 14 at 11:00 AM. Jerry will be laid to rest at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen, Tx. Memorial contributions in Jerry’s name can be made to: Alzheimer’s Association, 3429 Executive Center Dr., Suite 100, Austin, TX 78731. Personal words of comfort may be sent to the family online www.gabrielsfuneral.com.