George M McDonald

George M McDonald passed away peacefully at Woodside Hospice in Pinellas Park Fl on March 20, 2012 at the age of 97.

My Father was preceded in death by mother Vera who passed in 1966, my stepmother Catherine in 2007 and my brother Jerry in 2010. He is survived by me his son John. I live in Gulfport Florida with my wife Dixie, Jerry’s wife Holley McDonald in Issaquah Washington, two grandchildren, Kent McDonalds in Trussville Alabama with his wife Leah and their twins Miles and Madaline and , Kerry McDonald in Renton Washing ton with her husband Tom and their children Sam and Molly.

My father would have told you he had a great life for almost 98 years. He had over 70 years of great marriages with my mother and stepmother. He and Catherine were still wintering in Portugal when they were 90.

He was born in upstate New York near the Canadian border before moving to Florida in the 50’s. He was a proud member of the Army Air Corps in World War II as a glider pilot stationed in France.

After the war he had a varied career path starting out as an electrician then moving on to becoming an entrepreneur, building and operating diners and motels in both upstate NY and Florida. Upon moving to Anna Maria Island in the early 60’s he could not find a place to open a diner and he and my mother opened what became one of the first and biggest arts and craft stores in the state of Florida and in fact the entire US. These stores not only were his business for the rest of his working life but had great impact on my brother and I. The craft industry became a 45 year career for me and Jerry took over Dad’s stores when he retired from the Air Force.

The thing that I remember most about dad was that ever since I was a little boy, he was the one that everybody in the family could depend on when they needed help with anything. His parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, as well as my brother and I, can all tell stories of how and why our lives were better because of him being there for us. He was never a wealthy man but he always had enough time and or money to help anybody that needed help. My brother and I both relied on him way beyond when were kids. After retiring in the 80’s he built a house for Catherine and himself in NC with an extra apartment for his parents who both lived into their 90’s as well.

He had countless close friends that spanned most of his life. I am paraphrasing but, Earl Mowry his good friend of over 50 years told said it well when he told me this morning that not only could he count on Dad’s help he could also always count on having a good time when they were together. I have heard a lot of the stories and they definitely had a good time.

He passed peacefully and I think without suffering and will be greatly missed.

A graveside service will be held on Friday March 23, 2012 at:

Serenity Gardens Cemetery

13401 Indian Rocks Road

Largo FL, 33774

(727) 562-2080