Howard Leland Mcdonald

Howard Leland McDonald, age 81, of Elgin, died October 2, 2008 at the Grande Ronde Hospital. A celebration of life will be held on Friday, October 10, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. at the Elgin Community Center; a potluck dinner will follow. Arrangements are entrusted to Daniels~Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center. 1502 7th Street, La Grande.

Mr. McDonald was born on May 2, 1927, the son of Ray William and Susan (Hinsliff) McDonald in Jerome, Kansas. When he was ten years old the family moved to Goldendale, WA where he was educated. He served with the United States Army in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. He was married to Mary Jean McCardel. The couple later divorced. On April 18, 1969 he married Jessie McDowell. He worked as a supervisor for Boise Cascade until his retirement, after which he worked in home maintenance and installing and repairing appliances.

Mr. McDonald was very active in his community and was a strong believer in volunteerism. He was a volunteer firefighter/EMT and a senior bus driver. He was a member of the Indian Valley Paraders square dance club, the Rock Wall Grange and Good Sam Club. He enjoyed horseshoe pitching, trapshooting, was an avid hunter and was talented at tatting and had a great sense of humor. He was awarded Man of the Year in 1992 by the Elgin Chamber of Commerce. He enjoyed cooking his famous fried chicken and pancakes for his kids and grandkids.

Survivors include his wife, Jessie McDonald of Elgin; former wife, Mary Jean McDonald of Summerville; children, Mike and Lynn McDonald of Southern California, Bill McDonald of Summerville, Patrick and Colleen McDonald of Elgin, Linda and Kenneth Buttolph of Boring, Sandy and David Jeffords of North Pole, Alaska, Bill McDowell of La Grande, Terri McDowell of Medford, Kelly and Kathy McDowell of La Grande; 25 grandchildren; numerous great grandchildren; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by a sister, Betty Jane McDonald when she was a child.

Those who wish may make contributions in memory of Mr. McDonald to the Elgin Fire Department or the Diabetes Association.

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