George McDonald, age 76, of Wolsey, died Tuesday, May 22, 2007 at his home after a long courageous battle with cancer. His funeral service will be at 2:00 PM Saturday, May 26th at First Presbyterian Church at Wolsey with Rev. Chip Holmes and Rev. Buck Hill officiating. Burial will be at the Wolsey Cemetery with Military Rites by the Hershman-Gordon American Legion Post #59 of Wolsey. Friends may call Friday afternoon and evening or Saturday morning at the Welter Funeral Home or prior to the service at the church Saturday afternoon. The family will be present from 7:00 to 9:00 PM Friday evening at the funeral home with a Prayer Service at 7:00 PM. George Maurice McDonald was born on November 17, 1930, to John and Artie (Warner) McDonald at Alvord, TX. Orphaned at age 13, he went to live with his sister and her husband (June and Lloyd Erwin) and their three daughters in Ft. Worth, TX. During high school, he worked after school and on weekends at Worth Food Market to help with expenses. In May 1949, he graduated from Ft. Worth Technical High School. Some of his honors were being chosen Senior Favorite, Whos Who in salesmanship and Whos Who in machinery. He lived with the Erwins until he joined the United States Air Force on September 7, 1949. He had his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX. Then he was transferred to the Air Force Base at Sacramento, CA for 2 years. From there he was transferred to Harlingen Air Force Base at Harlingen, TX. While in Harlingen he met Idel Beals. They were married on May 1, 1953. Six weeks later, George was shipped out to Korea and was on active duty there until the Korean Conflict ended. He was honorably discharged on January 28, 1954 and earned five medals. Upon returning to Harlingen, he decided to become a beekeeper (Idels father was a beekeeper). He and his brother-in-law, Duane Beals, became partners and were in the beekeeping business for 40 years. They lived in Grygla, MN; Harlingen, TX; and Sweeny, TX before moving to Wolsey in 1959. After living in 17 different homes, they moved into their present home in 1965. His brother-in-law Duane Beals retired from beekeeping in 1981 and Georges son-in-law, Kevin Reilly became his partner until 1991 when they both retired from beekeeping and sold their business. He and Idel always had their house open for anyone, especially their daughters friends. Although a very busy beekeeper, he found time to take his family camping, fishing and took them on many out of state trips during their childhood. They tried to visit relatives in Texas every year. George loved working with his hands and spent many hours in his garden and in his shop. He made five grandfathers clocks and other items for his family. He tore down a two-story house across the street from his home and built a big shop and two other smaller buildings. The things he made from his shop are too numerous to mention. He fixed up a mobile trailer home and had it taken to West Whitlock where the family enjoyed eight summers there. He loved to garden and was especially proud of his 2-3 pound onions. He and Idel belonged to Funsteppers and loved to dance waltzes and polkas. George was very patriotic and was proud that he was a Legionnaire. He was a past member of the Sioux Honey Association; was a retired volunteer fireman; a member of Forest McMullen Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #1776 of Huron; 40 et 8 in Huron; Sportsman Club in Huron and a lifetime active member of the Hershman-Gordon American Legion Post #59 of Wolsey. He was a baptized member of the First Presbyterian Church in Wolsey. He was very active when Wolsey had their annual Goat Racing for 10 years and made several goat carts. He literally never stopped working until health problems kept him home. George found a new friend in his later years in the neighbors chocolate lab, Cedar. He loved Cedar and spent hours and hours being with her, taking her for rides, etc. Cedar brought a lot of comfort to George along with his daughters and their families. Survivors are his beloved wife, Idel, of 54 years; four daughters; Artie (Kevin) Reilly of Wolsey, Sharlotte (Philip) Hines of Huron, Maureen (Kurt) Dubois of Wolsey and Teresa McDonald of Rock Springs, WY; four grandsons; Matthew and Dustin Reilly, Arron and Adam Hines; three granddaughters; Gena and Dana Dubois and Morgan McDonald; three brothers: John (Pat) McDonald of Bowie, TX, Max (Maxine) McDonald of Decatur, TX and Robert McDonald of Alvord, TX and a very special brother-in-law, Lloyd Erwin of Ft. Worth, TX. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters: June Erwin and Mary McEntire; two brothers: Terrell McDonald and Frank McDonald; four sisters-in-law: Helen, Joy, Odessa and Wilma McDonald; one brother-in-law: D. T. McEntire and an infant grandson, Benjamin Dubois.