Mass of the Resurrection
Obituary of Jonathan Palmer McDonald
Jonathan Palmer McDonald, born on April 1, 1976 to Cindy (Palmer) Clemmons and Donald L. McDonald in Austin, Texas, passed peacefully from this life on February 18, 2024. Known as “Mac” by many of his friends, Jonathan was a veteran of the U.S. Army Special Forces (Green Beret, 18 Delta medic).
Left to cherish his memory are Jonathan’s wife, Eileen, and their family, Brenna Price, Hayden McDonald and Austin McDonald; his parents Cindy and Josh Clemmons; his brother Bryan McDonald, wife Mayo, and their family, Hailey, Katie, and Madison; step-brother Crockett Clemmons; step-sister Shawn Fafatas and her daughter, Ashley Blair; Jennifer McDonald, mother of Hayden and Austin; and father-in-law Linden H. Price, as well as extended family and many, many dear friends.
Over the course of his service in the U. S. Army, Jonathan was deployed in Afghanistan, Peru, Iraq, and Bosnia and completed the Land Navigation course, the Combat Trackig course, SERE, advanced Scount Sniper training, and instructed the Basic Field Firearms Officer course. Jonathan was a recipient of the Bronze Star medal, the Army Commendation medal, the Army Achievement medal, and the National Defense Service medal, as well as several campaing medals.
Later in his life, as a civilian defense contractor, Jonathan trained and directed the Designated Defensive Marksman assigned to protect the U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan, and trained emergency response personnel in tactical combat casualty care. More recently, Jonathan worked for a company that provides fishing and hunting destinations and long-range marksmanship instruction.
Jonathan lived a very full life that was unexpectedly cut short. His family and friends will greatly miss his stories, his fabulous cooking, and his dynamic sense of humor. Jonathan’s love for his boys, Hayden and Austin, was his primary motivation in life, and that love will be carried forward after his death in the thoughtful, resilient, and caring young men they have become.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Jon’s memory to one of the many charities that provides support to former members of the U.S. military.
A Funeral Mass for Jonathan will be celebrated on Saturday, March 9, 2024, at 1:00 p.m., at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 6622 Haskell St, in Houston, Texas, followed by a reception with his family and friends in the adjacent hall.
To view the funeral Mass for Jon McDonald, please open the following link: