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BORN
1935
DIED
2017
John McDonald Obituary
John Wayne McDonald, better known to the world as Sonny, passed away from a life well-lived on October 22nd. Sonny spent his early years in Jacksonville, TX where he organized his brothers and a band of boys in years of building model airplanes, sinking homemade boats, and not wearing shoes.
Conscripted at an early age into his father's welding shop, Sonny began driving the winch truck at the age of ten. At eighteen, he joined the U.S. Air Force--safer than another summer at McDonald Welding. He received an honorable discharge in 1958.
A talented craftsman, Sonny could build anything without needing a set of plans. Over the course of many years, he built a series of cabins in the San Juan Mountains outside of Mancos, CO where he had the good fortune of meeting his wife Jane.
Sonny loved to be on the water and collected boats at every opportunity, owning over eighteen throughout his life.
Here to remember Sonny include family: stepson Dan, stepdaughter Ruthie and their families; sister and brother-in-law Patricia and Don; brothers and sisters-in-law Michael and Lori; Jeffrey and Marty. A legion of nieces, nephews, grand and great grand nieces and nephews are part of his legacy.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for John McDonald
4 Entries
Dorothy Kay McDonald
November 28, 2023
He is missed tremendously.
November 13, 2017
Whoever wrote this, wrote it as if Sonny himself had dictated it. Perfect. I will never be able to think of Sonny in the past tense. Always happy, always smiling. Once while working on a cabin, he wanted to go to an air show on the weekend. Everybody was too busy. He said, You know, it's getting hard to find someone to go have fun anymore. Enough said. A friend and an inspiration. Miss you always, Sonny. Love, Jean.
Taylor Adams
October 30, 2017
Sonny had a great life sailing one of his sailboats, collecting cars, working in his shop doing a project and building cabins. He always had one sailboat he was sailing, one he was restoring and one he was dreaming about. While building our cabin above Jackson Lake in Mancos one thing Sonny taught me was what PAIC stood for. It had nothing to do with the building of the cabin, but it was about sneaking into town for Pie and Ice Cream. We sure have great memories of Sonny. I will miss seeing him for dinner at the Millwood, a holiday picnic or him stopping by the cabin. Forever miss you ol' friend.
Dale WQright
October 30, 2017
Our Sonny .. .You and Jane were our first best friends in Mancos (1982) You and Zane, were always sneakin' off (while building houses) to have PAIC (Pie And Ice Cream). You will always be remembered . . .
Dale Wright (Zane)
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