Cloudy, 26° F
(March 17, 1929 - Oct. 28, 2013)
Donald Patrick McConnell, 84, of Mesa, Ariz., died Monday, Oct. 28, 2013, in Mesa.
He was born March 17, 1929, in Buffalo. He married the love of his life, Ruth Claire Shultz, on May 19, 1950, in Buffalo. She survives.
For 33 years, Donald worked for Ohio Oil Company, which later became Marathon Oil Company, where he was a foreman. He loved horses and was an accomplished leather craftsman who enjoyed saddle making and leather tooling. He also made purses, belts, and various other leather goods.
Donald loved anything to do with the outdoors and took his friends and children on numerous pack trips into the mountains of Wyoming. After retiring from Marathon, he worked as an outfitter and camp cook for hunting and fishing trips in the Yellowstone area. He greatly enjoyed cooking in these remote locations. He also cooked for the fire cleanup crews during the big fires in Yellowstone National Park.
Donald was raised as Master Mason on Nov. 22, 1957, and was past Master of Tri-Mountain View Masonic Lodge No. 35 in Lovell. He joined Radiant Chapter No. 34, Eastern Star in June of 1964 and served as Worthy Patron many times. Since 1978, he was a member of Royal Arch Masons Darius Chapter No. 10, York Right Council of Masons, Kalif Shriners of Sheridan and of the Knights Templar of Cody.
Donald and his wife Ruth were former members of the United Methodist Church in Lovell.
Survivors in addition to his wife include their five children: Robert (Cindy) McConnell, Donna Weathermon, Georgia (Dennis) Jones, Patricia (Ronn) Tanner, and Jess (Fon) McConnell; brother John Arross; 13 grandchildren: Jennifer and Tony McConnell, Maranda and Annette Weathermon, Vennissa (Eric) Jacobson, David (Kalinka) Jones, Melissa (Thierno) Diallo, Michael Sullivan, Melody Tanner and Jennifer Jackson; 27 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents Ida Potts McConnell Arross and Jean Arross; two sisters Helen Harnish and Annette Akers; and brother Charles McConnell.
A memorial service was held Wednesday, Nov. 6, in Mesa, Ariz. There also will be a gathering in the spring/summer for family and friends.
The family has asked that memorial contributions be made to the Shrine Children’s Hospitals.
Arrangements were entrusted to Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park and Funeral Care in Mesa, www.mariposagardens.com.
