>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

McDonald

Howard Leland McDonald, 81, of Elgin, died Oct. 2 at Grande Ronde Hospital. A celebration of life will begin at 2 p.m. Friday at the Elgin Community Center. A potluck dinner will follow. Daniels-Knopp Funeral, Cremation & Life Celebration Center is in charge of arrangements.

Howard was born May 2, 1927, to Ray William and Susan (Hinsliff) McDonald in Jerome, Kan. When he was 10 years old the family moved to Goldendale, Wash., where he was educated.

He served with the Army in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska.

He was married to Mary Jean McCardel. The couple later divorced. On April 18, 1969, Howard 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.

Howard 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 and trapshooting, and was an avid hunter. He was talented at tatting and had a great sense of humor. Howard 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 and Kelly and Kathy McDowell of La Grande; 25 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and other relatives. He was preceded in death by a sister, Betty Jane McDonald, when she was a child.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Elgin Fire Department or the Diabetes Association.