James E. McDonald

October 11, 1946 - May 28, 2020

James Ernest McDonald, 73, of Arizona, passed away peacefully on May 28, 2020 in Phoenix. He was born in Hudson, NY on October 11, 1946 to Joyce Best (Erickson) McDonald and the late Henry James McDonald. Jim grew up in Philmont, NY. He was a 1965 graduate of Ockawamick Central School and in 1967 graduated from SUNY Cobleskill. He proudly served in the United States Navy as a combat photographer before moving to Colorado. “Mac”, as he was known to his family and friends, eventually moved to California and began a 31 year career as a props carpenter. After his retirement, he and his late wife Debbie moved to Arizona. Mac will be greatly missed by his sons, Joshua (Julie) of Simi Valley, CA and Jeremy (Jennifer) of Maricopa, AZ; his three grandchildren, Nicholas, Zachary, and Brook; his sister Marthana (Ronald) Wood, mother - in - law Sally Berent, sister- in- law Nancy Aiello, and brother- in- law, Brian Berent in addition to several nieces and nephews. Mac was predeceased by grandchildren Kane and Kaylee, sister Verdie Ruth Hunt, uncle and aunt William and Jane Erickson, three brothers-in-law Charles Hunt, Danny Berent and Steve Aiello, and father-in-law Larry Berent. Jim’s family wishes to thank the several friends who reached out over the last few weeks to reminisce with Jim about the good times that were shared together.