Ewen William Macdonald

Mac was a man of facts and figures whose early years in the Canadian Provence of Saskatchewan left him with a love for winter sports and a proclivity for the milder climates to the south.  A good read in later life would be the seasonal arrival of annual reports, collected and digested with zeal, or the daily “rag,” as he called any local newspaper, yet he didn’t care to read but the occasional book. He was never a great student nor did he finish college in Victoria, BC,  but he was self-taught about life and the world at large.  He was very well traveled and loved to talk of the countries he’d visited and the memorable historic sites, such as the magical time he was baptized in the Red Sea! He often said he wished he had learned another language, lamenting that years of French in school had not stuck.  He was full of surprises and a great story teller… he even spent an evening in the pokey once, long, long ago in a dusty California town. His legendary stories include tales of surfing in the morning in San Diego and skiing that very afternoon at Big Bear. He was delighted to ski for free when he turned 70 and was still quite an avid skier taking multiple trips a year with the Torrey Pines Ski club.  Skating with the Canadian Ice Capers in 1951 and 1952 as a young man allowed him to tour the USA extensively by rail; this experience influenced his decision move to California by the late 1950s, to seek US Citizenship and make the USA his permanent home. He was also a spring board diver in his youth so it comes as no surprise that he went sky diving at 89, just 2 years ago and talked of wanting to go again. He loved convertible cars, starting in the late 1950s Los Angeles and finishing here in Spartanburg where he could be seen driving his white Solera with the top down and Georgia, his sweet canine companion, at his side.  He perfected the art of the Sunday drive, driving with no particular destination in mind, on back country roads on any day of the week, weather permitting.

Perhaps hewing too to closely to his Scottish roots, generosity with himself did not come naturally; however, he could be generous to a fault with others.  He loved to treat family and friends to dinner.  He almost always ordered shrimp or salmon and generally could not get enough mushrooms! Avocados were a close second of his food favorites and inspired artistic impulses.  He was a simple man who was quite easy to please, easy to have around and a joy to take along, as he just found a way to fit in. He gladly got in a wheel chair if it meant he could be included in our adventures.  He loved driving the scooters at Walmart or Costco, the later being his favorite place to shop. He loved a good glass of Riesling or Zinfandel during the cocktail hour before dinner in one of his curated crystal glasses that he would tap to verify the sound heritage.  He liked his coffee black and enjoyed a good party up until his last days. He never tired of trying new things-- he even churned homemade ice cream this July 4th for the first time in his life. He welcomed all of life with open arms. On his 91st birthday he started his new life in Christ and just one week later was welcomed into heaven for the biggest party of his life.  We are delighted to share of his full life lived long and finished well.

Gramps is survived by his son Scott Macdonald (along with his wife Kathryn),daughter Rosemond “Posey” Macdonald-Edwards (along with her husband Doug),  grandson Morgan Macdonald (along with his wife Elizabeth), grandson Phillip Macdonald (along with his wife Lauren), granddaughter Maggie Macdonald, grandson Andrew Macdonald and great grandson Elijah James Macdonald.

Per his wishes, his ashes will be spread on “The Burn” in Aspen, Colorado, later this year.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.