Paul Otis McDonald

Paul Otis McDonald, beloved husband, father, uncle, grandfather, and friend, was called home August 18, 2017, one week short of his 54th wedding anniversary. Born September 24, 1943 to Kellis Wolf McDonald and Margaret Elinor Wolf McDonald, he grew up in the badlands of Arizona, hunting rattlesnakes, coyotes, and arrowheads. Paul was descended from a long line of real cowboys, from his father and grandfather before him. He loved to work with animals, specifically horses, and competed in rodeo. As well, he was an accomplished gun-smith, sculptor, and artist. Paul attended Northern Arizona University, where he met and married his lovely wife, Judith Rose McDonald. Together, they achieved teaching degrees, and began a life of adventure. From Arizona, they moved to Colorado where Paul and his wife, Judy taught school, raised four children, hunted deer and elk, farmed cattle, raised horses, and helped their children compete in rodeo and athletics. Paul started a rodeo photography business during the summer months, and was a well-renowned fast-action photographer in the Four-Corners area for over 30 years. He participated in Mountain Man Rendezvous, which prompted his next gun adventure. Paul began competitive shooting, and he became a Single –Action Cowboy Shooter, joining the nationwide SASS community. As his teaching and photography career continued, Paul and Judy moved from Colorado to teach in New Mexico for several years, and then finally returned to Colorado, settling in Fort Collins for retirement after a 32 year teaching career. For Paul, retirement meant competitive cowboy shooting with the Single-Action Shooter’s Society, where he made many, many friends. He was affectionately called “Bison Butt”, aptly named because of his sculpting work of a buffalo jump done in bronze, which consisted of many carved buffalo butts. Later, he assumed the name “Sheriff Pack Wolf” connecting to his own western heritage, and finished his competitive shooting career with that moniker. Along with his love for shooting and guns, Paul sculpted in lost-wax bronze, created detailed, hand-tooled leather work, designed and built many home-improvement projects, was an avid ammunition re-loader, hunted coyotes and prairie dogs relentlessly, and stayed busy following his beloved grandkids and their athletic adventures. Paul instilled in his children and grandchildren a great sense of self, pride, and ability. He passed on his love of shooting and gun-smithing to all of them. Paul was his grandchildren's’ greatest fan, and was so very proud of all their accomplishments. He always had a project started, another project planned, and several ideas for projects stashed away for later. There wasn’t anything he couldn’t build, fix, create, or figure out. He was a man of great accomplishment, and admired by all who knew him. His humorous Face Book stories were enjoyed by many; especially the stories that ended with “…and then the fight started!” Paul had been posting his rodeo photos from past years on Face Book as well, reminding many of the thrill of riding rodeo. Those photos prompted a lot of conversation about the “good ole days”, and the “good ole boys” who worked the rodeo circuits in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Kellis and Margaret McDonald of Douglas, AZ; his oldest brother, Bobby; and his sister, Mary Weber of San Diego. He is survived by his wife, Judith Rose McDonald; his brother, Kellis McDonald and his wife, Anne Pletcher McDonald; his four children, Jennifer McDonald and her wife, Joanne Rumpel, Danita McDonald, Monte McDonald and his wife, Christie Warner McDonald, and Levi McDonald and his wife, Faith Brunson McDonald and grandchildren, James Broderic McDonald, Paul Maxmillian McDonald, Gabriella Rose Yvonne McDonald, Otis James McDonald, Oona Clare McDonald, Derrel Paul Pearcy; nephews, Paul K. Howe of Nacogdoches, TX, Mitch McDonald of Needles, CA, Kellis McDonald Jr. of Needles, CA; nieces, Roberta Howe of San Diego, CA, Mindy McDonald Spannuth of Everett, WA, Leanne McDonald Olsen, of Fallbrook, CA, Marie McDonald Andrade of Needles, CA, Holly McDonald Burroughs of Needles, CA. He was a true hero to his family, his friends, and his many former students, and will be sorely missed. Celebration of Life for Paul McDonald, September 2, 2017 at 4 pm in Fort Collins, Colorado. Please call (970) 599-1492 for the location.

Tributes

Paul Otis McDonald

September 24, 1943 - August 18, 2017