Oren Joe McDonald passed away on January 6, 2023, at the age of 91. Joe was born May 11, 1931, in Searcy, Arkansas, to Elizabeth Sowell and Oren McKinley McDonald. After spending his childhood in Searcy and Little Rock, he moved to Newport where he graduated high school in 1949.
Joe enjoyed a long business career with the John Deere dealership in Newport, having retired after 37 years of service. He also served as a firefighter for 25 years and retired as Assistant Chief of the Newport Fire Department. Joe was an avid outdoorsman and cherished duck hunting with family, friends, and his Labrador retrievers. He also enjoyed Razorback football, outdoor cooking, and especially spending time and sharing stories with family and friends. He was a member of the Newport First United Methodist Church.
Joe is survived by his loving wife of 72 years, Mary Ellen Coffey McDonald; one son, Gary (Tommie) of Batesville; grandchildren, Laura Seaton (Jason) and Matt McDonald (Carmen) of Batesville; great-grandchildren, Alyx Keller, Rhett McDonald, Grant McDonald, Sophie Seaton, and Luke Seaton, all of Batesville; one sister, Pat Jarvis of Jonesboro; sister-in-law, Linda McDonald of Texarkana; nieces, Mary Eaves (Dale) of Newport, Linda Wilson (Harold) of Jonesboro, Kim Polk of Texarkana, and nephew, Billy Lynn McDonald of Texarkana. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, Billy McDonald.
Friends may visit at the funeral home, Monday beginning at 12:30 p.m. Funeral services will follow at 1:30 p.m., Monday, at Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home Chapel, with interment in Walnut Grove Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the charity of your choice. The family wishes to express their appreciation to the staff of the White River Pain Clinic and Dierksen Hospice for their compassionate care of Mr. McDonald.
