Donald James McNee

Donald James McNee aka Grandpa Sweetheart (90) passed away on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, surrounded by family, after fighting a mercifully brief battle with heartbreak. He was born on July 18, 1934, in Pocatello, ID, to Ralph Pearl McNee and Elizabeth Ann Capell. The youngest of three, Grandpa grew up in Arimo, and Hawkins Basin, ID. Intimately acquainted with hardship from a young age, Don’s mother died when he was seven, with his alcoholic father abandoning the family shortly thereafter. Bounced around by various relatives and frequently abused, Grandpa took leave of his unfortunate situation at the tender age of 16 and flew the coop with all his earthly belongings on a school bus.

It was around this time that he met Dorothy Staley, his eventual high school sweetheart and the love of his life. Engaged during her junior year, her parents said she had to finish school before she could get married. They were married two days after graduation in the Logan LDS temple, and they spent the next 69 years together, virtually inseparable. He worked as a farm laborer in their early years together, until he was drafted into the Army. After Dorothy joined him on station in Germany, their first child, Kevin was born. After leaving active duty, they moved to Ogden and then Sunset, adding two more children along the way, Cheryl and Debra. Always skilled with his hands and mechanically inclined, Grandpa would spend 32 years working at Hill Air Force Base as an aircraft mechanic, retiring in 1991.

 Grandpa lived for projects. When he and Dorothy moved into their house in Sunset, he told her he’d fix it up just the way she wanted and proceeded to take the next 63 years making it to her liking, doing most everything himself. Never shying away from a task, Don DIY’d cement work, framing, wiring, plumbing, plaster, drywall, and finish carpentry, all before the era of YouTube tutorials. It earned him the Grandma-dubbed title of “jack of all trades, master of none”. That said, his lack of professional training or expertise never daunted the pride he took in his work, or the love he put into it. A couple additions, several outbuildings, patios, landscaping projects, and countless other improvements later, the home he built with his own two hands was a quintessential gathering place, a sanctuary, and a happy place for all who visited, stayed, or celebrated.

A quintessential outdoorsman, Don lived to hunt, camp, fish, and snowmobile. Decades past is lined with memories of epic, “how-did-he-get-out-of-that-alive” kind of trips: The storied yearly deer hunt at Uncle Duane’s, family fishing trips to Flaming Gorge, and snowmobiling mishaps to name a few. He once tried out his own personal biathlon, hitting a deer while snowmobiling near Hardware Ranch, smashing his shoulder in the process, one of his litanies of injuries earned “in the field”. Possibly more metal than man, Grandpa took full advantage of the capabilities of his mortal coil, and we’d all thought he was going to die on a snowmobile in the end.

After he retired, Grandpa continued his love of projects, building himself a professional woodshop, crafting countless woodworking projects for everyone around him, from cabinetry to cradles and everything in between. Always a car guy and a talented mechanic, he acquired a rusty 1950 GMC pickup, spending several years and most of his loose change restoring it. “Old Blue” was his pride and joy, and he lived for taking it to summertime car shows, winning countless prizes.

While Don’s daredevil antics were the stuff of legend, his personal exploits were outweighed by his willingness to help anyone along the way, no matter who they were. Grandpa was utterly selfless, always willing to stop and help a stranded stranger, no matter the circumstance or who they were. (He rescued his children, grandchildren and their cars on numerous occasions.) He was the dictionary definition of an emergency contact and could always be counted on to pull over when he saw hazard lights on the shoulder, ready and willing to change a tire, help fix the problem, lend money, or donate the shirt off his back, without judgment. His desire to serve carried over into his church service as well. As a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he held many callings including serving as a counselor in three bishoprics. He and Dorothy served a full-time mission to Detroit Michigan and served as ordinance workers in the Ogden temple.

Don adored his family, cherishing spending time with them in the backyard, on the boat, or at the campground. Never begrudging and always with Grandma on his arm, he enthusiastically attended all the dance and music recitals, sporting events, and graduations his grandkids could muster. Whatever the event, after the final act, you could always pick Grandma and Grandpa out of the crowd, Grandma shouting at the top of her lungs, with Grandpa standing by her side, silent - but grinning, true to form. Don was deeply loved by all around him, and he’ll be sorely missed, though we take solace knowing he’s back with his Grandma Sweetheart. Don was preceded in death by his loving wife Dorothy, his parents, siblings, and their spouses. He is survived by his children Kevin (Janette) McNee, Cheryl (Steven) Wilson and Debra (Sid) King, 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, October 4, 2024 at the Sunset 3rd Ward, 338 West 1800 North, Sunset. The family will meet with friends Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church. 

 Interment, Lindquist’s Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, 1718 Combe Road.