Raymond Elmer McDonald

Raymond Elmer McDonald, 87, passed away Monday, January 16, 2012, at Fulton Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Raymond was born on October 21,1924, in Fulton, Mo., to Leroy Richard McDonald and Ida Mildred (Estes) McDonald. Raymond grew up and attended schools in the Fulton area. He married Edith Mae Lawrence in Harrison, Ark. on June 22, 1946. They resided in Fulton until 1967 when the family moved to Jefferson City, Mo. He later moved to Columbia, Mo. where he was married to Betty June McKenzie. Raymond worked as a carpenter and loved turning a piece of walnut into a beautiful piece of furniture. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He enjoyed the outdoors and spent many moonlit nights traipsing through the hollows around Fulton and weekends quietly waiting for the fish to bite. To know him was to love him and he will be greatly missed by family and friends. He is survived by a daughter, Deborah (Debbie) Sue McDonald of Holts Summit; a granddaughter, Destiny McDonald Barletta, her husband Christopher and their children, Emilia Beatrice and Nathaniel Ellis of Wayland, Mass.; a grandson, Gabriel Lawrence Pierce and his son, Logan Gabriel of Jefferson City; a daughter-in-law, Pamela Terrill McDonald of Hermann and her children Misty (Dave) Oetterer of New Haven and Neal Terrill of Hermann; a sister, Mary Payne of Fulton; and a brother, John David (JD) McDonald and wife Naomi, of Avon Park, Fla.; and many loving nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by three children, Lawrence Edward (Eddie) McDonald, Raymond Timothy (Timmie) McDonald, Rebekah Louise (Beckie) Pierce; their mother, Edith Mae McDonald; Betty June (McKenzie) McDonald; four sisters and their spouses, Evelyn and Richard Calvin, Zilpha and Hayden Christopher, Francis and Jake Hochemeyer, Mildred (Mickie) and Tom Mirts; and a brother-in-law, Orville Payne. A graveside service and luncheon gathering to celebrate Raymond's life will be held in the spring.