Jonathan Thomas McDonald of Post, Texas went to be with our Savior in Christ on Monday November 15, 2010. Jonathan was 28 years old at the time that he made the ultimate sacrifice while performing his duties as a Highway Patrol Trooper.
Jonathan was born to Cindy and John McDonald on July 24, 1982 in Lubbock, Texas. He grew up in the community of Greenwood, a suburb of Midland, Texas. Jonathan graduated Greenwood High School in 2000. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Marketing from Texas Tech in 2005. Jonathan worked for United Supermarkets for five years while attending Texas Tech and preparing for his future. Jonathan had achieved his potential with United Supermarkets and was a manager at the time that he decided to dedicate his life to serving others. Jonathan was a strong Christian man and valued the gifts that God had gave him. In 2008, with support of his wife and family, he joined the Department of Public safety and became a Highway Patrol Trooper. Jonathan used the gifts that God gave him and dedicated his life to protect the lives, rights, and privileges of the people of Texas.
Jonathan was stationed in Post, Texas upon graduation from the DPS Academy in September 2008. Jonathan immediately became a loved member of the community and was active in attending the First Baptist Church in Post. Jonathan fell in love with the community and loved the people he lived with. Jonathan loved his work and was loved by his co-workers. Jonathan was the consummate example of a true professional, a devout Christian, and a fine family man. Jonathan’s greatest gift to his friends and family is the example he left us on how to live our lives.
Jonathan met his future wife Laura Michelle Thornton while attending High School in Greenwood. Jonathan’s favorite memories were of courting and dating his High School sweetheart, Laura. Jonathan and Laura were wed on June 24, 2006 at the First Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas. Jonathan and Laura’s love produced the proudest day of their lives on May 14, 2010; the day their beautiful baby girl Kacyn Shae McDonald was born. Jonathan cherished his role as a family man and enjoyed providing for his family.
Jonathan is survived by his wife Laura Michelle McDonald, his daughter Kacyn Shae McDonald, his parents Cindy and John McDonald, his brothers Mark and Jared McDonald, his grandmothers Florene Conner and Frances Sanders, Mother and Father-in-law Donny and Kathy Thornton, his DPS family, as well as family and many dear friends.
Jonathan is preceded in death by his grandfathers, Thomas Conner and Olen McDonald and a step-grandfather Stanley Sanders.
Funeral services will be held at 2pm on Friday, November 19, 2010, at First Baptist Church in Lubbock. Burial will follow in Resthaven Memorial Park. The family will receive friends and loved ones on Thursday from 6pm to 8pm at Resthaven Funeral Home’s Abbey Chapel.
Pallbearers for the service will be: Sgt. Ruben Garcia, Trooper Veronica Garcia, Trooper Michael Thomas, Trooper Jeffrey Jinks, Trooper Bo Brown, Trooper Brandon Tidmore, Trooper Aaron Fritch, and Trooper Richard Villanueva. Honorary Pallbearers will be: Mark McDonald, Jared McDonald, Stuart Blalock, Kevin Thornton, and Bryan Jarzombek
Memorial donations can be made to a Scholarship Fund established for Kacyn Shae McDonald at Citizens Bank in Post, Texas.
Jonathan’s life can best be described in the words of President Theodore Roosevelt’s speech, “THE MAN IN THE ARENA”: It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. (Theodore Roosevelt)
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