Ray Lavon McDonald, 76, passed away peacefully in the comfort of his home surrounded by family in Pensacola, FL on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.

Ray was born on July 10, 1949, in Brewton, AL to Mae Eula Steele McDonald and Robert McDonald. Ray’s vivacious personality as a jokester and life of the party shined from an early age and only grew richer throughout his life. Ray married his beloved wife, Faithe in 1987. He was the father of three daughters, Heather, Stephanie, and Lindsey. Ray enjoyed playing guitar, hunting, spending time with family and friends, and always finding new hobbies to dabble in. He owned a convenience store and fish market in Brewton for many years, served in the National Guard, and worked in insurance and banking until he retired to specialize in honey-do projects. Ray displayed his perseverance and strength by overcoming a traumatic brain injury in 2014, continuing on to live a wonderfully full life alongside Faithe, and after relocating from Pace, FL, enjoying the wide variety of offerings in downtown Pensacola.

He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Ernest Melvin McDonald; and father-in-law, William “Tiny” Roberts.

Ray is survived by his wife, Faithe (Roberts) McDonald; brother, Lee McDonald; daughters, Lindsey Dyer (Cam), Heather Goodlander, and Stephanie Pugh (Scotty); grandchildren, Jason Jordan, Kayleigh Johnson (Greg), Jessica Taylor (Cyrus), Olivia O’Connor, and Grayson Dyer; great-grandchildren, Charlotte, Avaleigh, and Haiden; and mother-in-law, Virginia “Jenny” Roberts. The family extends their eternal gratitude to Dr. Mark Ryan and to all of the staff at Vitas Hospice and Council on Aging, including Sandra, Daphne, Kiara, and Tori, for their exceptional care. Memorial Visitation will begin at 4:00pm Thursday, April 16, 2026, with a Memorial Service at 4:00pm at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests that donations in Ray’s name be made to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, GA or Vitas Hospice.