James Lee McDonald

James Lee McDonald, age 79, passed away peacefully at his home in Lubbock, Texas on Sunday, October 22, 2023. Lee was born on March 9, 1944 in Matador, Texas to James Horace McDonald and Julia Elizabeth Reed McDonald. Together with his siblings, Lynn, Lonnie, and Patsy, he grew up on the family farm in Quitaque, Texas. He graduated from Quitaque High School in 1962. After high school, he attended barber school and Clarendon Junior College, before transferring to Texas Tech University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Vocational Agriculture in 1967, becoming a certified Ag Teacher. After graduation from Texas Tech, Lee was a high school Science teacher. He spent a total of 3 years in Flower Grove, Texas and Anton, Texas where he taught High School Biology, Physical Science, and Physics.

On June 7, 1968, Lee married Katie Blackstone, in Muleshoe, Texas.

In June 1970, he started his full-time career with the USDA – Soil Conservation Service in Memphis, Texas. His career path moved him around Texas from his first position in Memphis, to Mount Pleasant, to McKinney, then finally to Pampa. In Pampa, Lee worked for the SCS/NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service) at the Gray County Courthouse Annex. For 22 years, he helped farmers and ranchers in Gray County with their operations before retiring in 1999 with a total of 30 years of government service.

After retirement, Lee designed and constructed Mc’s Automatic Brushless Carwash, located just a couple of blocks north of their existing self service Mc’s Carwash on Hobart Street in Pampa. The carwash business was a labor of love, many times laboring late into the night, but it proved to be a very fulfilling second career, while getting the opportunity to serve the people of Pampa.

During their 35 years in Pampa, the McDonalds were active members of the Mary Ellen and Harvester

Church of Christ and the Gray County 4H program. Lee was a 4H volunteer and could always be counted on to help out in a variety of ways, including transporting 4Hers to camps, contests, and Texas 4H Roundup in the family RV.

In 2012, Lee and Katie sold both of the Mc’s Carwash locations and retired again, this time leaving their home on Comanche Street, and moving to Lubbock to be closer to more extended family. They were blessed to join a great community of neighbors at Tejas Estates, and a welcoming church family at Kings Ridge Church of Christ.

Known as PapaMc to his 13 grandchildren, and Uncle Lee to his large number of nieces and nephews,

Lee was loved by everyone. He was always ready to lend a hand to help, and always willing to work. He loved being outside, he loved taking care of the garden, and he loved planting trees. He was Renaissance man with a variety of skills and talents. In addition to being a licensed barber, he was skilled at woodworking and leathercraft. Over the years, many friends and family members were the recipients of handcrafted wooden knife-racks, hand-tooled leather belts, garment bags, domino cases, and boot carriers.

No distance to was too great to travel to see friends or family, as evidenced by the many and varied RV trips and adventures all over the country.

Lee was preceded in death by his parents, Horace and Elizabeth McDonald of Quitaque, and by his daughter Stacie McDonald Leary of Austin. He is survived by his wife Katie Nell McDonald of Lubbock; daughter, Sherri George and husband Sean of St. George, Utah; son, Kirk McDonald and wife Krista of Fairview, Texas; daughter, Kim Roberts and husband Matt of Fredericksburg, Texas; 13 grandchildren - Johnathan Leary, Eoin Leary, Zoya George, Anthony George, Moira George, Levi George, Kailey McDonald, Lane McDonald, Miles McDonald, Ella McDonald, Tristan Roberts, Aubrey Roberts, and Lila Roberts; and 1 great-grandchild Valerie George. Lee is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, lifelong friends, and great neighbors.

Memorials can be made to the Texas 4-H Foundation in memory of Lee McDonald.

A funeral service for James will be held Friday, October 27, 2023 at 10:00 AM at Monterey Church of Christ, A graveside committal service will occur Saturday, October 28, 2023 at 12:00 PM at Memorial Park Cemetery, Flomont, Texas.

Serving as pallbearers are Johnathan Leary, Eoin Leary, Levi George, Anthony George, Tristan Roberts, Lane McDonald, Miles McDonald, Seth Blackstone, Ethan Blackstone, Andrew Blackstone and Mason Blackstone.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.resthavenfuneralhome.com for the McDonald family.