Jake William McDonald

Jake William McDonald, of Bryan and formerly of Groesbeck, passed away at St. Joseph Hospital in Bryan on Tuesday, August 31, 2021, at age 86.

Visitation will be held at Groesbeck Funeral Home from 9:00 a.m. through 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 4, 2021.    Graveside services will begin Saturday at 10:00 a.m. (or upon arrival) at Fort Parker Cemetery, with Pastor Jon Honea officiating.

Pallbearers will be Michael Sayers, Clifton McDonald, Jack Weido, Eugene Sembera, Clay Lindmark, Adrian Moreno and Peyton Prejean.

Jake was born October 17, 1934, in Mt. Calm to Jake William McDonald and Jessie (Welch) McDonald.    He was a veteran having served in the United States Marine Corps in Korea and Japan.

After Jake was honorably discharged, he returned to Limestone County, working on a ranch as a cowboy, breaking horses.  Jake was united in marriage with Geneva Sims, also from Limestone County, in July 1956.

The family moved to Bryan, where he worked as a commercial truck driver.   After having delivered milk, cement, and gravel, he bought his own gravel truck, and hauled gravel until he was in his late seventies.

Jake was passionate about hunting arrowheads and took the whole family along collecting around the Fort Parker area, and he acquired a great collection.   He was an “old soul” who was a fanatic about all things old and western.   He loved going to flea markets, or just stopping on the side of the road to ask about some item for sale, and he displayed an old buggy and old wagon at his home.   He also acquired a great collection of spurs.    

Jake was a generous man and would take care of his friends if he saw they were hungry.    He loved his family and his grandchildren.  

Jake was strong during a time of tragic loss of four of his children, and after he suffered a stroke seven years ago, he never once complained.  Many people may remember him as the fellow sitting in his power-chair at the end of the driveway on Leonard Road, every day, looking forward to folks driving by and honking and waving.   

Jake was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Bonnie Miliam and Martha Herwald; and four of his children: son, Jake McDonald, son, Clifton McDonald, daughter, Donna McDonald, and son, Anthony McDonald.

He is survived by his wife and the mother of his children, Geneva Sims McDonald of Bryan; daughter, Kelly Weido of Bryan; and ten grandchildren (and their spouses):  Joey Lindmark and husband Jason of Lewisville, Jamie Prejean and husband Kevin of College Station, Jenna Storm and husband Kinze of Bryan, Jack Weido and wife Jessica of Bryan, Jordan Weido and fiance Dominick Adams of Bryan, Clifton McDonald, Jr. and wife Chelsea of Kansas City, MO., Sarah McDonald of Kansas City, MO., Michael Sayers of College Station, Wes Tindle of Frankin, and Lillian Sembera and husband Eugene of College Station; seventeen great grandchildren; brother-in-law, Jimmy Herwald of Bryan; and nieces and nephews.