Obituary: Macdonald, Roy
Age 80
Born June 26, 1933, in Salt Lake City, Utah, he was the third child of the Rev.
Arthur Roy and Allie Hester (Prince) MacDonald.
From Utah the family moved to Pocatello, Idaho, and then to Blackfoot where Roy graduated from high school in 1951.
Roy attended Pasadena Nazarene College, Pasadena, California; then, in 1953, he joined the United States Air Force.
He met his wife, Helen Lay, in 1953 while stationed at Vance AFB, Enid, Oklahoma.
They were married in her hometown of Chandler, Oklahoma, in 1955.
They had three sons: Curtis Dale, Steven Lee, and Leslie Alan.
During his career with the Air Defense Command branch of the Air Force, he served with the 538th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (FIS), 84th Fighter Group, 39th Air Division, 71st FIS and 318th FIS.
Airplanes he flew included the PA-18, T-6, T-28, B-25, T-33, T-38, F-86, F-102, F-104, and F-106.
He was stationed at 16 bases, including overseas duty stations in Japan and Korea.
In 1977, he retired after 24 years of service and Roy, Helen, and their sons moved to Hayden Lake, Idaho, where they purchased 25 acres on the Rimrock and built their permanent home.
Roy raised cattle, horses, and hay.
After his retirement from the Air Force, Roy worked for Patzer Oil Company, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and NuWay Tours, Spokane Valley, Washington.
He retired a second time when he reached age 62.
After retirement, Roy and Helen traveled extensively visiting 25 countries together.
Roy was predeceased by his brother, Marvin MacDonald, and sister, Edith F. (MacDonald) Prescott.
Roy is survived by an extended family including his wife Helen, their three sons, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren: • Curtis and his wife Barbara N. (Hubbs), of Boynton Beach, Florida, and their daughter, Tegan L. of Tinker AFB, Oklahoma; • Steven, his wife Julie A.
(Barter) of Spokane Valley, Washington, and their children: Jeffrey J. Simmons, his partner Jillian Schipper, and their children Aiden Barajas and Jayce Simmons, all of Vista, California; Mistie L. (MacDonald) Varner and her husband Zach of Spokane Valley; and Shawna M. MacDonald, also of Spokane Valley.
• Les, his wife Mandie L. (Duncan), and their daughters Katharine E. and Alison C., all of Colfax, Washington.
There will be a visitation from 11:00 a.m. until12:00 noon on Thursday, July 18, at Yates Funeral Home, Hayden Chapel and a gathering for friends and family will be held from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at the Coeur d’Alene Inn at 506 W Appleway Avenue.
Interment will be at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery, Medical Lake, Washington.
YATES FUNERAL HOME, HAYDEN CHAPEL is entrusted with the care of final arrangements.
Please visit Roy’s online memorial and sign his guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.