August 26, 1946
- March 12, 2010
James Lawrence McDonald passed away early on March 12, 2010, in the Hanna Hospital, which had been his home for some time and where he was always surrounded by his working “angels”. Other “angels” Jim found are in the cancer clinics in Red Deer and Edmonton. Jim was born August 26, 1946 in Empress, the third child of Hughy and Jean McDonald. He is survived by his dad Hughy, brother Jack, sisters Judy and Jeany, and their families, special friend Dorothy and her family, and many aunts, uncles, cousins and their families. He was predeceased by his mother Jean in 1995. The family moved to Craigmyle in 1952, where Dad worked for Ray Branum, and Jim started school that year. He went on to Delia for high school and took grade twelve at the Vocational School in Drumheller. Jim worked at many places in his day, some of these were: farmers at Oyen and Bindloss, Canadian Utilities, and the Variety Store, Moore’s Motors and Donnie Ganong’s in Hanna. In the early ‘70s he began farming, raised livestock, and he and Dorothy also raised chinchillas. Later he drove the gas truck for the UFA until he had to go on oxygen. At that time he began to acquire wood working tools, making barn board and cedar post items. His new John Deere Gator enabled him to carry on despite his health issues – he said the Gator was his legs. He drove the Gator for the last time just the Saturday before he died. He kept up on local news and events by dropping by Luke’s and the UFA in Delia and Hanna – can you imagine the pearls of wisdom shared at “the learning center”, aka the peanut table at the UFA Hanna??!! Jim was active in the community and with the local Credit Union. He was an avid rodeo fan and had a passion for old cars and antique tools. He was skilled in many fields – plumbing, wiring, fabrication, and mechanics. His attention to detail was a trademark. And always he’d go “down to the farm” to give Dad a hand. Jim was colorblind and this was a handicap in some ways, he couldn’t drive in the city because of the traffic lights, but often would find a way around it. When the wiring in Uncle Lyle’s truck burned up, he sat eight-year-old Debbie on the fender to give him color directions as he installed the new wiring. Jim was the driving force behind our annual McDonald family reunion, and with his attention to detail, we knew nothing would be forgotten or left till the last minute. He gave generously of his time and knowledge and became an important part in the lives of many of us. We saw a new side of Jim during this past year as he endured his pain and sickness with courage and dignity. It is an example that will be hard to follow. He was a good son. He was a good brother. He was a good friend. Family, friends and neighbors gathered to remember Jim on March 14 at the Craigmyle Civic Center. In Jim’s memory, donations may be made to the Central Alberta Cancer Center: 3942 50A Avenue, Red Deer, AB T4N 6R2.
