Charles Bennie (Charlie) McDonald |
| Posted 2009-07-28 by Judy Wight Branson |
| The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Sunday, July 26, 2009 Charles Bennie (Charlie) McDonald Jr. Charlie McDonald went to be with his Lord on July 25, 2009, at the age of 83. He was born on Dec. 22, 1925, in Loop, Texas, to Charles Bennie McDonald Sr. and Mamie Opal Lyles McDonald. After his parents divorced, he lived with his mother in meager circumstances. That time of deprivation contributed to his strong sense of determination to overcome any obstacle that stood between himself and his goals. He expected to earn his own way in whatever he did. Perhaps his ability to weather adversity also came from his paternal great-grandparents' Cherokee Indian heritage. Out of necessity, he worked hard during long hours at several types of jobs in his youth, gaining skill in each. As an older child, he worked on the family farm in west Texas, then as a mechanic in a welding shop, as a butcher, and as an oil field "roughneck" in Texas. He retained those skills for good use throughout his adult years. He left high school in Odessa, Texas, at age 16 to work full-time as the manager of the meat department at B & H Grocery Store. However, his aspirations drew him back to high school and he was able to graduate with his class from Odessa High School in 1944. After that, he left home to attend a 2-year degree program at Benson Business College in Clovis, New Mexico. Always paying his own way, he worked as a fry-cook in his father's café there, and also in a clerical position for an attorney/real estate office during his college years in Clovis. There, he gained insight into the field of real estate that would serve him well later. He also enjoyed boxing and was the middle-weight Golden Glove Champion of New Mexico and competed nationally. He finished his higher education at Rockmont Bible College (now Colorado Christian University) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in education and music in 1951. While there, he served as assistant to the college president and was elected Student Body President. His love of music and vocal ability propelled him to travel and perform with the King's Messengers Quartet, singing low bass. Charlie was baptized in 1949 and from that time until the end of his life, he remained a committed and devoted Christian. On May 31, 1951, he married Ruth Anne Lewis in the Beth Eden Baptist Church in Denver. He and Ruth Anne moved back to Odessa, Texas, where he took the position of Associate Pastor of the East Side Baptist Church, then became its Minister of Music and Education. In the 1950s the young couple moved to Prescott, Ariz., where he worked as the manger of the J.C. Penney shoe department and for a time in the Borden Milk Company in Prescott. However, he gave much of his time to First Baptist Church as their Youth and Music Director. During those years, he counseled numerous youths who needed his wisdom and encouragement. His sense of Christian mission led him to become the founding lay pastor of two Prescott Baptist churches, one in Forbing Park and the other in Prescott Heights. He always made time to encourage strong leadership among the church membership. In addition, Charlie became a member of The Gideons International. He gave many presentations in area churches to support its ministry of distributing Bibles, and remained a member for 50 years. For 10 years, while Charlie lived in Skull Valley, he was a member of the Skull Valley Bible Church, and he was a member of First Baptist Church, Prescott, for 45 years. He often gave his gift of music by singing solos for many congregations. Unusual in his ability to juggle several commitments at once, while Charlie was employed in church work he also dreamed of developing a real estate business. In the 1950s he co-founded Pauley and McDonald Realtors-Insurance with John Pauley. They expanded the company to seven offices throughout Yavapai County with over 35 associates. His company developed numerous residential areas in the county. Charlie became well-known not only in Prescott for his real estate business, but also throughout the state and even the nation. He served as president of the Prescott Board of Realtors, was a two-term president of the Arizona Association of Realtors, was vice-president of the National Association of Realtors, was vice-president of the Farm and Land Brokers, was chairman of the Arizona Real Estate Commission (serving 12 years under three governors), was a board member of the Arizona Department of Real Estate (serving 12 years), and was director of the National Association of Real Estate License Law Officials. Not only was he associated with many church and business activities, he had other affiliations. A member of Rotary International, a member of the Yavapai College Foundation Board of Directors, and a leader of several special projects and community initiatives, Charlie had a strong sense of community service. As a husband and father of two girls and two boys, he involved himself in family activities. After his wife Ruth Anne died in 1984, he married Doreen Wright in Sedona on Oct. 4, 1986. With her, he fully enjoyed traveling the world and ranching, farming, and gardening. The sudden death of Charlie's son Charles Daniel McDonald in 2002 was a great loss to him. Family members who survive Charlie include Doreen McDonald, his wife of 22 years, and his three children. They include Archy McDonald and his wife Laurica of Skull Valley, Ariz.; Joy Anne McDonald Klein and her husband William Klein of Ormond Beach, Fla.; and Sharon Jeanne McDonald Tiknis and her husband Michael Tiknis of Chicago. He leaves many grandchildren: Joshua McDonald and his wife Chanda, Jennifer McDonald, Jason McDonald and his wife Amy, Kara McDonald, Chad McDonald, Bethany McDonald, Freeman Klein and his wife Erin, Kelly Klein, and Aaron Charles Tiknis. His great-grandchildren number eight: Sierra, Tanner, Marley, Kalista, Shelbie, Titus, Cyrus, and Darius McDonald. Charlie loved and was loved as father and grandfather by Doreen's two sons and their families: Steve Childers and his wife Cathy of Prescott, and their children Michael, Jacob, Jessica, and Braxton; Paul Childers and his wife Dana-Marie of Phoenix and their daughter Hailey-Marie Childers. Cousins were important to Charlie and he enjoyed many reunions with them in Texas. A large number of friends also mourn the loss of his presence, but find comfort in his entry into his heavenly home. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, July 29, in Prescott's First Baptist Church, located at 148 S. Marina. Arrangements are by Hampton Funeral Home. Call the church office or the funeral home for the exact time of the service. Memorials may be given to Gideons International. See Also: Find A Grave |
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