James "Mac or Mackey" McDonald, Jr.

James Shaw “Mac or Mackey” McDonald Jr passed away Saturday December 27th at the age of 81. Mac was born October 15, 1944, in Greenville, North Carolina to James Shaw McDonald Sr and Clara Dell McDonald. 

The family moved to Arkansas following World War II and settled in Pine Bluff. After high school, Mac attended college at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville where he played clarinet in the marching band. It was there that he met his wife, Norma Jean McCollum, marrying on March 4, 1967. Mac graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance in 1967 and promptly joined the Air Force as a Captain in the hopes of becoming a pilot. However, having never flown before, he soon discovered that flying was not in the cards for him. After completing his time in the Air Force, Mac returned to his Alma Mater to complete a master’s degree in business. Once completed, he and his young family moved Texas, settling in Irving.

Mac began his career in the flooring business and was the perfect salesman. He never met anyone he didn’t like and was usually the life of any gathering, ensuring that everyone there had a good time and felt they belonged. Mac loved golf and fishing and passed his love of fishing down to his daughters and grandchildren.

He is survived by his two daughters, Jean Kenney and husband Butch of Tyler, Texas, Kathi Awtrey and husband Chanse of Saginaw, Texas, and his grandchildren Andrew Holst of Coppell, Texas, Chaeli Kenney of College Station, Texas and Brenna Kenney of Macomb, Illinois. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 51 years, Norma, and his brother Dale Neal McDonald.