William Angus McDonell

On Saturday, December 31, 2016, the earth exchanged its sorrow in losing William Angus McDonell with heaven’s joy and happiness in the reunion of him and his beloved wife, Joyce.

Bill was born to Sarah Ann Waters and Ronald Angus McDonell on July 13, 1926 in Eureka, Utah - a town that he loved and referred to as “the garden spot of the west”. He grew up during difficult and trying times of great poverty, but went on to study at the University of Utah and to earn BS and MBA degrees from California State University Long Beach. He was an entrepreneur who formed and presided over several successful companies, and in his retirement years he served in fundraising positions for the Long Beach YMCA and Heritage Schools of Provo, Utah. He was a faithful and devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, serving the church in numerous callings, including as Bishop of the Long Beach 10th Ward from 1969 to 1974.

On June 24, 1947, Bill married the girl of his dreams, Joyce Rife. They lived in Utah and Idaho, where their first daughter was born, then moved to Long Beach, California in the late 1950’s where they were blessed with four more children. Bill and Joyce solemnized their marriage in the Los Angeles LDS Temple on February 22, 1962. In July of 2007, Bill’s heart was broken when Joyce passed away, and he lived the past nine years in the homes and company of his children, looking forward to his reunion with Joyce.

Bill was preceded in death by his oldest daughter, Karen Lynne Seamons. He is survived by Michele Ann King (David), Wm Scott McDonell (Mary), Kelly Joyce DeSchepper (David), and Matthew Todd McDonell (Rachelle). He is also survived by 23 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and 11 grandchildren-in-law, all of whom will dearly miss their Papa Bill and Grandpa Bill.