Donald Patrick McConnell

Donald Patrick McConnell, age 84, of Mesa, Arizona, passed away Monday, October 28, 2013, in Mesa. He was born March 17, 1929 in Buffalo, Wyoming. He married the love of his life, Ruth Claire Shultz, on May 19, 1950, in Buffalo, Wyoming. She survives.

For 33 years, Donald worked for Ohio Oil Company, which later became Marathon Oil Company, where he was a foreman. He loved horses and was an accomplished leather craftsman who enjoyed saddle making and leather tooling. He also made purses, belts, and various other leather goods. Donald loved anything to do with the outdoors and took his friends and children on numerous pack trips into the mountains of Wyoming. After retiring from Marathon, he worked as an outfitter and camp cook, for hunting and fishing trips in the Yellowstone area. He greatly enjoyed cooking in these remote locations. He also cooked for the fire cleanup crews during the big fires in Yellowstone National Park.

Donald was raised as Master Mason on November 22, 1957 and was past Master of Tri-Mountain View Masonic Lodge #35 in Lovell, Wyoming. He joined Radiant Chapter #34, Eastern Star in June of 1964 and served as Worthy Patron many times. Since 1978, he was a member of Royal Arch Masons Darius Chapter #10, York Right Council of Masons, Kalif Shriners of Sheridan WY and of the Knights Templar of Cody, WY. Donald and his wife Ruth are former members of the United Methodist Church in Lovell, WY.

Survivors in addition to his wife include: five children, Robert McConnell and his wife Cindy, Donna Weathermon, Georgia Jones and her husband Dennis, Patricia Tanner and her husband Ronn, and Jess McConnell and his wife Fon and brother John Arross; 13 grandchildren, Jennifer and Tony McConnell, Maranda and Annette Weathermon, Vennissa Jacobson and her husband Eric, David Jones and his wife Kalinka, Melissa Diallo and her husband Thierno, Michael Sullivan, Melody Tanner, and Jennifer Jackson; 27 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Ida Potts McConnell Arross and Jean Arross ; two sisters, Helen Harnish and Annette Akers; and brother, Charles McConnell.

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm, Wednesday, November 6, 2013, in the activity room at Emeritus at Broadway, 7231 E. Broadway Rd., Mesa, AZ. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers contributions be made to the Shrine Children’s Hospitals.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park and Funeral Care, Mesa, AZ. www.mariposagardens.com