Clifford McDonald

Funeral services for Clifford C. “Cliff” McDonald, 87, Lawrence, will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, January 14, 2013 at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Lawrence.  Burial will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.  He died on Wednesday, January 9, 2013 at Pioneer Ridge Retirement Community.

Cliff was born on October 27, 1925, in Kansas City, MO, the son of Frank W. and Helen (Honnell) McDonald.

He graduated from Liberty Memorial High School in Lawrence in 1944 where he was the senior class president.  He was on the Kansas High School All-State Football team in 1943 as the quarterback and captain.  He had the school record for the 200 yard low hurdles.  In 1949 he graduated from the University of Kansas where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Business.  He played football and basketball for KU and was on the 1948 Orange Bowl team and was on the 1947 Big 6 Champion team.
 

Cliff was the former owner of McDonald Beverage, as the Anheuser-Busch Wholesaler in Lawrence.

He was a member of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Lawrence.  A member of American Legion-Dorsey-Liberty Post #14, the 40 & 8 of the American Legion in Leqavenworth, KS, Eagles Lodge, Elk’s Lodge, where he served as a past Exalted Ruler, President of the Democratic Party – Washington Day, and a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.

He enjoyed fishing during the summer months in Canada and enjoyed working in his garden near Tee Pee junction in North Lawrence.  He was a Master Angular in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.  He was a finish judge at KU Relays for 25 years and a St. Patrick’s Day Parade Grand Marshall.  He also enjoyed “holding court” sitting on the cases out in the beverage warehouse.
 

He married Barbara Byrd on June 27, 1951 in Kansas City, MO.  She preceded him in death January 29, 2005.

Survivors include two sons, Kent McDonald, and wife, Annette, Greg McDonald, and wife, Julie; two daughters, Teresa Allen, and husband, Bob, Carol McDonald; all of Lawrence; and 11 grandchildren, Elizabeth, Ian, and Karl McDonald, Dylan and Catlin Standish, Darren, Kelly, and Sean Conrad, and Michael, Marti, and Kim McDonald.

The family suggests memorials in his name to Lawrence Humane Society or the American Cancer Society and may be sent in care of the mortuary.

20 Condolences

  1. Greg L. Simms on January 10, 2013 at 7:32 am

    GOD BLESS CLIFF. GOD BLESS THE ENTIRE McDONALD FAMILY…they are all very special to me. Be strong-take care. This Bud’s For You Boss, you were THE BEST BUD MAN ever!
    GLS (and family)



  2. M.LHURT on January 10, 2013 at 9:26 am

    Very sorry to read of the passing of your dear loved one Cliff. Life is such a precious gift. When we think about how long a tree lives and yet our gift of life is so short-lived for the time we exist.
    You are comforted by the hope of the resurrection.
    God holds out this wonderful hope for all those in the grave. At Joh 11:25 Jesus said ” I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE. HE THAT EXERCISES FAITH IN ME, EVEN THOUGH HE DIES, WILL COME TO LIFE.”
    Mark 5:38-43 is one of the nine accounts of ones who were resurrected. How comforting to know these things from the Holy Scriptures. What a blessed reason to hope in God!
    The gift of your memories of Cliff will bring you great joy and turn into a treasure.
    You and yours will receive strength through prayer to God, you will feel comfort by the loving concern of your God-fearing friends, and you will be uplifted by studying God’s Word.
    Trust in ” the God of All Comfort” Psalms 83-18

    Agape
    M.L.Hurt



  3. George & Cheryl Hunsinger on January 10, 2013 at 5:25 pm

    Greg and family; I was saddened this morning when I read that Uncle Clifford as I called him had passed away. In the two years I had worked for him, I learned somethings. He was a smart, fair, and excellent buisness man. You always new were you stood with him, and that made him a good boss. I can still hear him name off some of the employee’s. Big George, Big Ron, G.L.S., and Miss Pat. I also remember the warehouse sandwich. We truly lost a great man. You folks are in our thoughts and prayers. God bless.



  4. Jennifer Allen on January 10, 2013 at 8:57 pm

    very sorry to hear of cliff he will be missed



  5. Rodger and Sheryl Henry on January 11, 2013 at 8:20 am

    Greg, Julie and family,
    We are sorry for your loss and are thinking of you during this time of loss.



  6. Mike Zimmerman on January 11, 2013 at 12:20 pm

    My condolences to the McDonald family, I will miss Cliff very much. He was a thoughtful friend.

    Mike Zimmerman



  7. Daniel Bearison on January 11, 2013 at 3:42 pm

    Dylan and Family,

    I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.

    Dan Bearison



  8. Brian Conrad on January 11, 2013 at 5:32 pm

    Lawrence has lost a Great man. My heart goes out to all the great McDonald family.



  9. Jennifer Kissinger on January 11, 2013 at 9:17 pm

    I don’t know what to say, other than that I loved Mr. McDonald very much. I’m so sorry for your loss. Ben and I hope you know that you’re all in our thoughts and prayers right now and so is Mr. McDonald. He brought us many years of laughter and happiness. We’ll always cherish the time with spent with him.



  10. Lois Mersmann on January 12, 2013 at 11:55 am

    Kent, Annette and family,

    We are sorry for your loss. Keep the memories of your father/grandfather close to your heart.
    May God grant you peace.

    ~Fred and Lois Mersmann



  11. Begert Family on January 12, 2013 at 12:53 pm

    You have our sincere condolences. I have enjoyed hearing your family stories over the years. Yours is a unique family tree.

    Begert family



  12. MarK & Pam Begert on January 12, 2013 at 12:57 pm

    You have our sincere condolences. I have enjoyed hearing your family stories over the years. Yours is a unique family tree.

    Begert family



  13. Ron and Debbie Miller on January 13, 2013 at 12:07 pm

    Our sincerest condolences to Kent, Greg, Teresa, Carol and the entire McDonald extended families. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Peace.



  14. o Newton King on January 13, 2013 at 7:41 pm

    To the McDonald family I send by heart felt sympathy for your loss. I will forever miss those times of holding court in his garage.Hold close the memories of Cliff as I will.



  15. Marie Galluzzi-Potter on January 14, 2013 at 10:00 am

    My condolences to Cliff’s family. May Cliff rest in true peace and happiness. My husband, Wallace Galluzzi, always appreciated the McDonald family and all they did for Haskell. God Bless!



  16. Chris Elcan (Warrenton, MO) on January 14, 2013 at 10:51 am

    Greg:

    Your Dad was such a special guy. I’ll always remember working Weaning Week with him in the early 1970’s when I worked for A-B. Please accept my deepest condolences.

    I hope you are well. Please send me your email address.



  17. Jordan Rose on January 14, 2013 at 12:35 pm

    We are so sorry to hear of your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers and we love you all… Micah, Jordan, and Kayin



  18. Ruth Anne Sneegas on January 14, 2013 at 2:08 pm

    To the entire McDonald family- We are so very sorry for your loss. Your dad did so many things; I know you will miss him. Sincerely, Ruth Anne and Randy Sneegas



  19. Jane (Reed) and Joseph Wilson on January 16, 2013 at 4:15 pm

    To my former classmate Carol and her brothers and sister, Kent, Greg, and Teresa, my deepest condolences on the loss of your father. May you remember all the good times with your parents. All our best, Jane (Reed) and Joseph Wilson



  20. Rob and Kori James on March 9, 2013 at 3:31 pm

    So terribly sorry to hear that Cliff passed away! Condolences to his loved ones from his friends in Northern Manitoba. We knew something was wrong when we couldn’t reach him over Christmas! Too bad we didn’t get to hear his voice one last time. He and Barb remain in our hearts and will be truly missed!



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