Gary Wayne McDonald

Gary was born March 7, 1951, in Houston to the late Wayne and Janell McDonald, the first of three children and first grandchild to the late Roy and Nora McDonald of Kaufman and the late Gertie "Mimi" Newby of Fort Worth. The family moved to Arlington and then settled in Fort Worth in the late '50s. Gary attended Glencrest Elementary, Forest Oak Junior High and Poly High School before transferring his senior year to be part of the first senior class at the new O.D. Wyatt High School. He was a member of the golf team and wrote for the first Talefeathers paper at Wyatt. He attended his father's alma mater, Texas A&M, graduated from UTA, but remained a dedicated Aggie fan throughout his life. He was a journalism major, and after writing for the school papers at Forest Oak and Wyatt, he later reviewed music at Texas A&M for the Battallion and UTA Shorthorn.

After graduating, he continued to write for review music and concerts for Performance and Buddy magazines, attending historic concerts and conducting interviews, such as Delbert McClinton and Willie Nelson. His love of music continued, collecting thousands of music albums and CDs over the years. He was a talented musician, playing with his old band members every week until just recently. Gigs included an impressive debut at the Forest Oak Teen Canteen and the annual Trinity Park Hunger event festival. He also worked for the cities of Arlington and Fort Worth, and Shutterworks. After retirement he enjoyed working part time at the Fort Worth Stockshow Rodeo and Texas Christian University and Rangers' games. He also enjoyed donating his time at the food bank at the Western Hills Church of Christ and helping out at the West Side Community Garden.

He will be dearly missed by all of the Poly and Rolling Hills bunch and so many friends and family.

Gary was preceded in death by his grandparents; parents; sister, Kay McDonald Hiatt; aunt, Jorene Newby Peden; and uncles, Jerry and Glenn McDonald, and Jerry Peden.

Survivors: He is survived by his sister, Judy McDonald; Uncle Roy and Aunt Beth McDonald, Jackie and Carolyn McDonald; cousins, Scott McDonald, Annette Boyd, Bret Peden, Monnette and Jeb Gray, Melaine Woolsey, and Jennifer Scroggins; and companion, Cynthia Williams.