D.W. “Mac” McDonald, Jr., 90, beloved husband of 72 years to Nettie Lee, passed away on February 7, 2014 in Houston, Texas. Along with his wife, those left to cherish his incredible life are as follows: daughter and son-in-law, Glenda and Larry Smith; granddaughter, husband and children, Teri, Rodney, Hayden and Dylan Howerton; grandson, wife and children, Jason, Sara, Aaliyah, Elijah, Armani and Stella Smith; granddaughter, husband and great-grandson, Kristin, David and Finley Thrasher; granddaughter, husband and great-grandson, Laine, David and Mac Santamaria; grandson and wife, Tyler and Morgan Scott; two great-grandchildren scheduled to arrive in 2014; and countless family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, and daughter, Beverly Ann McDonald Acock.
Mac was born on April 27, 1923 in Bivins, Texas. During WWII, he enlisted and served in the Coast Guard where he was stationed in New Orleans and New York with his young bride, whom he married after a short three month courtship. Following attendance at Texas Christian University, he worked at Olmstead Kirk Paper Company where he retired as a Vice President in 1985. Much of his free time was spent outdoors with family and friends, first in Fredericksburg and in recent years, in Bivins. Their family property was inducted to the Family Land Heritage program in 2004, and he liked to spend as much time there as possible. Mac was an avid storyteller who never met a stranger. He loved keeping in touch with family and friends and claimed that “he never had any bad days.” Above all else, Mac was a devoted family man.
A service will be held on Monday, February 10, 2014 at 2:00p.m. at Forest Park Funeral Home & Cemetery in The Woodlands, Texas. Pallbearers are Rodney Howerton, David Santamaria, Tyler Scott, Jason Smith, and David Thrasher.
Honorary Pallbearers are Hayden Howerton, Dylan Howerton, Finley Thrasher, Elijah Smith and Mac Santamaria.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mac’s memory to organizations near to his heart: Komen Houston, www.komen-houston.org or Make-A-Wish Texas Gulf Coast, www.texgulf.wish.org (please note Beverly’s Giving Tree).