David Mark McDonald, lifelong resident of Vacaville, CA, passed away at home on January 15, 2024. He was 67 years old.
There will be no funeral, and there is no memorial service planned at this time.
David was born on May 14, 1956 in San Francisco, CA. He was the 4th of 7 children of Raymond and Alice McDonald.
David is survived by his father, Raymond, brothers Hugh, Douglas, and Greg, and sisters Barbara Stewart (Rob) and Claire Crain. He was preceded in death by his mother, Alice, and his sister, Mary McDonald.
Anyone who knew David knew that he loved Vacaville, choosing to live there his entire life. After graduating from Vacaville High School, he traveled a bit, but he always came back to his beloved hometown.
David loved music. When reflecting upon fond memories of David this past week, David's youngest brother, Greg, remembers David playing 45s and 8 track tapes for him. The two of them shared a mutual love of classic rock music.
David had a special love for plants, flowers, and trees, which led him to study botany, gardening, and landscaping at Solano Community College. He became very skilled and extremely knowledgeable in these areas. David's brother, Douglas, recalls that initially, David had difficulty remembering the official names of different species, and thought he would never master them. Then one day, it just clicked. He was able to memorize the names without any problem, and he remembered all those names for the rest of his life.
David's love of living things and desire to help others led him to what he affectionately termed his "side jobs." He mowed lawns, took care of gardens, and did landscaping for clients, many of whom were elderly, some homebound, as well. Often, David would be the only person checking on these people. He loved caring for their yards and demonstrating his care for these clients. They, in turn, loved and trusted him.
David's family, friends, and co-workers knew that one of the things about which David was most proud was his career working for the City of Vacaville. He put his vast knowledge of plants, and how to care for them, to good use in his work as a groundskeeper and maintenance worker. He retired from the City of Vacaville after many years of loyal service.
The family appreciates the expressions of sympathy from friends, and encourages people to share memories of David on the Tribute Wall.
