Michael Patrick McDonough

Michael Patrick McDonough was born on November 25, 1992, in Houston, Texas to his parents Carol and Bob McDonough. Sadly, he passed away at home peacefully in his sleep due to an undiagnosed heart condition on June 19, 2025, in Sugar Land, Texas. His enlarged heart explains the love he had for his fellow man and the impact he made on many in his short 32 years.

A loving son, brother, and uncle, Michael was a lover of all things music, history, language and food. Fluent in German, Spanish and conversant in Mandarin and Vietnamese, he was also fascinated by the different dialects in each region. He learned K’iche’(a Mayan language in Guatemala) from his friends at Jupiter Pizza. In Munich, he grew proficient in the Bavarian dialect known as Bairisch. He also studied and could emulate the Central Texas German dialect.

A foodie extraordinaire, Michael had a knack for whipping up delicious meals, assembling extraordinary charcuterie boards, and had a passion for creating new dishes and flavors, and was always excited to share his creations with everyone.

Michael, like his older sister Megan, whom he loved and adored, was destined to be a musician. His love of music began at the age of three when he received his first ukulele. In early grade school, he started playing the guitar followed by the trombone in sixth grade, and later transitioned to learning the tuba. He played in the First Colony Middle and Clements High School bands. Michael continued building on his guitar skills and most recently was teaching guitar, mandolin, drums and piano to more than 40 dedicated students.

Those that knew Michael always felt his love of life, his peaceful nature and his charismatic way of listening and looking at you as if you were the only one that mattered. He was the shining light that enlivened every path that he crossed. A close friend describes Michael as the sun all his friends revolved around - “the gravity that held our orbit of friends together.”

Michael touched many lives including friends from St. Laurence Catholic Parish and schools at every level in Sugar Land, Austin and Houston. Whether it was staff or management at the various places he was employed, he was a steadfast and loyal friend to all those he met.

He was one semester away from completing his degree in biotechnology at the University of Houston - Downtown.

Michael is survived by his loving parents, Carol and Bob McDonough, sister, Megan Rees (Jonathan), nephews, Glenn and James Rees, and numerous family members and friends across the world, including Ursula Beilhardt, his mentor, teacher and adopted Oma and her husband, Werner Beilhardt in Munich.

Michael is in the loving hands of our almighty God now and we look forward to him greeting us one day in heaven.

“Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Social Concerns Ministry at St. Laurence Catholic Parish. The Ministry serves the need of the entire Fort Bend County community throughout our area. Michael would have appreciated continuing to serve those in need.

Service information:

Visitation/Rosary: Tuesday, July 1, 2025, 5-8 p.m.

Settegast-Kopf Company @ Sugar Creek

15015 Southwest Fwy

Sugar Land, TX 77478

Funeral Mass: Wednesday, July 2, 2025 @ 10 a.m.

St. Laurence Catholic Church

3100 Sweetwater Blvd.

Sugar Land, TX 77479

Luncheon reception to follow in the Parish Hall.