Clarence Eldon McDonald

Clarence Eldon “Mac” McDonald, 86, died peacefully in his sleep on December 28, 2023. After managing a non-aggressive blood cancer for four years, Mac chose not to have aggressive treatment for a subsequent diagnosis of leukemia.

He is survived by his loving wife Pauline L. (Polly) McDonald and daughter Pamila (Pam) McDonald who, with the support of Hospice, were able to help Mac stay in the Boulder home he designed and built in 1972, through his final weeks and last breath.

Mac was born in Pueblo, Colorado on May 31, 1937, the oldest of six children. He is preceded in death by his parents Lester and Sarah (Bisbee) McDonald; sisters Ellamae DeFord; and Sarah McDonald (stillborn); brothers Edward (Connie surviving) McDonald, Jesse McDonald and one sister-in-law.

He is survived by his sister Emma (Dick) Scrivner, two sisters-in-law, and eleven nieces and nephews and their families.

Mac attended Rye High School, graduating in 1955, and went on to attend Pueblo Community College. In 1961, he transferred to the University of Colorado in Boulder. After a pausing to work and raise a family, Mac returned to school in 1990, earning a bachelor’s degree in environmental design.

Mac navigated challenges with mindset, hard work, and perseverance. Growing up, his “road traveled” was literally unpaved. From a young age, he milked cows for his grandfather, cleaned chicken coops, bailed hay at neighboring farms, and took advantage of opportunities to earn a few cents or sleep in a bunkhouse. When he wasn’t working, he played baseball, fished, swam in the St. Charles river, and as part of 4H, raised, showed, and placed at the State Fair with a calf his grandfather let him choose.

Mac and Polly first met on a blind date in 1960 and married in 1962. Their daughter Pam was born in 1963 and proved to have the independent spirit of her father and the kindness of her mother. Living and working in Boulder, Mac and Polly created many great memories of camping, hiking, backpacking, bowling, and taking road trips together and with friends and family. During the 61+ years of their marriage, they built a life together, supporting each other in joint and individual pursuits.

Mac’s career in residential/small business design and construction started with his work at a local company; later he started his own business. He completed many different types of projects over many years and could show and tell lots of stories about the properties he worked on. The process of design changed greatly over the years, requiring him to navigate the learning curve from pencil drawings to Auto Cad. Mindset, hard work, and perseverance!

Photography, particularly nature photography, was Mac’s passion. Throughout a lifetime of outdoor experiences, he captured tens of thousands of photos – landscapes, wildflowers, birds, and other wildlife. On a successful trip to Yellowstone to photograph Sandhill Crane nests and chicks, he had an amazing and rare opportunity to photograph a Grizzly mom with FOUR cubs. Other people were watching her as well, and Mac decided he could outrun at least one of them, so he continued taking photos. In subsequent years, he learned that this Grizzly mom, #399 according to the Yellowstone Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team and nicknamed “Quad Mom” was studied and described on internet, television, and books.

She was famous! And she became one of his best stories.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America Rocky Mountain Affiliates: https://rockymountain.hdsa.org

 Mac’s Father Lester and Brother Jesse died of Huntington’s Disease. Mac has supported HDSA research with regular contributions throughout his lifetime.

Online Donation

 Select Tribute & Memorial Gifts. Under additional information select yes for Tribute Gift. Enter In Tribute Of Name: Clarence E. “Mac” McDonald, Tribute Notification Name: Pauline L “Polly” McDonald. Tribute Notification Email: [email protected].

Mail a Check Donation

 Payable To: HDSA Rocky Mountain Chapter

 Mail To: P.O. Box 7066, Denver, CO 80207, Memo Line include in Honor of Clarence E "Mac" McDonald.