Kem "Skip" Martin McDonough

Kem “Skip” Martin McDonough, age 68, was born on September 7, 1956, to Doris “Beth” Elizabeth Bellomy McDonough Newkirk and Martin “Marty” Edward McDonough in Houston, Texas. Skip passed away peacefully in his home right before 6:00 am on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.

Skip was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Dianna McDonough Gay, brother-in-law, John Collins, and his beloved Australian Shepherd pups, Critter, Lucy, Dixie, Abbye, and Mika. He is survived by “his girl” of 41 years and wife of 34 years, Deborah “Debbie” Baselski McDonough. His precious daughter, Madison “Pooh” Leigh McDonough DeAnda, son-in-law, Devon James DeAnda, and four beautiful and deeply cherished grandchildren, Daelynn Leigh, Mason James, Kye “Hoss” Cameron, and Scottie Claire DeAnda. Sisters, Lecia Brown and Sherrie’ Collins. Sister-in-Laws, Dr. Vickie Baselski and Cynthia “Cindy” Baselski Patterson, and brother-in-law, Dr. Robert Skinner. Nephews, Chase McDonough, Christian McDonough, Keaton Collins, Brandon Rohde, Travis Parker, Dr. Robert “Robbie” Skinner, Brandon Patterson and nieces, Teletha Brodd, Dr. Ashley Skinner, and Nicole Patterson Johnson.

With dad serving in the Army, Skip, his mother and sisters traveled to several places, including Europe. Skip had fond memories of living in Germany as a young boy, visiting local food markets, sledding in “real” snow and helping momma pick out a very special grandfather clock in an old quaint clock shop.

The family settled in San Antonio, Texas when Skip was in grade school. Skip was a momma’s boy who loved to help his mom with anything she needed including cooking, cleaning and even sewing. He loved spending time with his family in Winnsboro, Texas where his momma was born and raised and working on the dairy farm. Skip joined Boy Scouts as a Webelos and participated in this program for many years. He participated in singing in an all-boys choir, signing duets in various churches with his sister, Dianna, playing football throughout his middle and high school years and winning 2 back-to-back National State Championship titles for Robert E. Lee High School, San Antonio, Texas. He studied in Taekwondo for many years and used what he learned, along with his gym buddies, to tear down a building with their bare hands and feet to receive Guiness Book of World Records acknowledgement in the late 1970’s. He learned things on his own like taking his beater car engines completely apart and putting them back together again to make them run. He taught himself how to play guitar and many of the songs he often played on his back porch were uniquely his style and with his belting voice the whole neighborhood would hear him even when they preferred that he’d stop that racket!

Skip moved to Austin, Texas shortly after high school and first lived a few blocks away from his wife’s family home but they did not meet until November 1983. Skip knew from the moment he met Debbie, he would marry her. He had to work hard to get her too and after 7 years of dating (including long distance relationship), they married on November 10, 1990.

Skip was a framer by trade and a very good one. He built so many multi-family structures, house developments, custom homes, strip centers, and more in the Austin and Hutto area. He traveled and built across the country West to places like Arizona and Nevada and East to North Carolina and even further north to Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Skip retired his nail bags in 2018 as his health kept him from continuing to work. But God had His plan, Skip’s momma came to live with him and Debbie in 2016 until the time of her passing in 2020.

Skip loved his one and only daughter, Madison. He was over the moon in love with her from the moment she was born and placed into his arms. Skip was so incredibly thankful and proud of his daughter. He was so fulfilled and amazed experiencing and watching how she has grown into the wife, mother, and person of many talents she has today. They had a very deep and special daddy/daughter bond.

Skip loved everyone and had so many people that knew him – everywhere he went – he’d run into someone he knew. Skip had a huge heart to love, fellowship, mentor, and would give anyone the shirt off his back. His home welcomed so many families and friends over the years to visit or to stay when they needed a place to stay or a good meal to eat. Skip was especially devoted to his nephews, Chase, Brandon and Travis. Each of these nephews as young boys had circumstantial needs. Skip without hesitation took them each under his care to help mentor them to be good men, learn trades, and to roll up your sleeves and keep chasing after your dreams.

Skip loved his neighborhood kids and considered them as family. From Ashleigh Martin and Makalya Rheinholtz, to the next generation of kids, Tucker and Lyla Smith and Ang and Ellie Scott.

Skip loved lake boating with the family, fresh water and surf fishing with his buddies. Skip loved to hunt with his buddies too. He mentioned often that being out there in the blinds in the stillness of the morning he felt he could feel God close by. Skip loved his Harley and to just take off for a ride. Skip loved his guitars and cigars. Skip loved his pups and the “dog pool”. Skip loved his back porch. This became a sanctuary where the music flowed, the food was being prepared on the grill or in a big pot on the deck or on the stove, and the company unmatched.

Skip was a rough tough guy with an infectious personality who came to know and accept his personal savior, Jesus Christ, as a young boy. Skip’s faith in the Lord was strong.

We will all miss Skip without a doubt. He was truly one of kind.

Contributions in Skip's memory may be made to Crosswalk Church, 8650 CR 110, Round Rock, Texas 78665 US, crosswalkroundrock.org.

A visitation for Skip will be held Sunday, March 30, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar, Austin, TX 78752. A funeral service will occur Monday, March 31, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM, 6100 North Lamar, Austin, TX 78752. A graveside service will occur Monday, March 31, 2025 from 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM at Assumption Cemetery, 3650 S I-35 Frontage Rd, Austin, TX 78704.

Officiating – Pastor Patrick McKeever, CrossWalk Church, Round Rock, Texas

Pallbearers – Ladd Dowling, Carey Martin, Kenneth McDonnel, Travis Parker, Brandon Rohde, and Justin Smith