Scott McDonald, age 75, of Sweet Home died March 10, 2009 surrounded by family at his home after a brief but courageous battle with Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The memorial service is 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 21, 2009 at the Sweet Home Mennonite Church (1266 44th Avenue, Sweet Home). The Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling arrangements.

Scott was born March 17, 1933 in Lakeview, Oregon to Roll and Mabel McDonald. His father was a barber in the Lakeview / Paisley area and his mother was a registered nurse and hospital administrator. Scott grew up in Lakeview where he developed a lifelong love of the outdoors. He graduated from Oregon State University in the Air Force ROTC program with a bachelor science degree in Business Administration in 1955. He was honorably discharged from the Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant when he developed diabetes shortly after graduation.

He met his wife, Mary Tapp, while at OSU and the two married June 12, 1955 in Vernonia, Oregon. After leaving the Air Force, they settled in Lakeview where their four children were born. While in Lakeview, he shared his love of the outdoors with his family. They took frequent trips to go fishing, hunting, and rock hounding. He was an avid hunter, building numerous custom firearms and reloading his own ammunition. The family moved to the Willamette Valley in 1966, but he frequently returned to recreate in the Lakeview area.

His lifetime vocation was in the grocery business. He began as a box boy in a grocery store in Klamath Falls at age 18. Upon returning to Lakeview, he again worked in food retail managing a store there for 10 years. After working at several stores in the Willamette Valley he and Mary bought Sweet Home Thriftway in November of 1973. He worked in his business with boundless energy and enthusiasm, along side the family, up until a few days before his death. Over the years, he and the family were able to steadily grow and expand the business to many times its original size. During his 53 years in the grocery industry, he earned the respect and admiration of many of his peers for his keen business skills and knowledge.

Scott and Mary were longtime members of the Sweet Home Church of Christ and later members of Riverside Christian Church. His faith was always an essential part of his public and private life. As he faced various challenges and difficulties in his life, he drew great strength from his faith and trust in God.

He is survived by his wife, Mary, and his four children: Mark and wife, Jan, of Sweet Home; Joyce Dodge and husband, Fred, of Sweet Home; Mike and wife, Angela, of Thousand Oaks, California; and Judy Moore and Dennis of Portland, Oregon. His ten grand children also survive him.

Pastors Skip Stock, Ted Stock of Riverside Christian Church and Scott’s son, pastor Mike McDonald, are officiating the service.

Scott will be greatly missed by family and friends alike. The family requests that memorial gifts be given to the American Diabetes Association.