Dr. James William McDoniel, a beloved family physician, devoted community member, and lifelong Sooner fan, passed away peacefully on January 1, 2025, at the age of 92.
Born on March 22, 1932, in Seminole, Oklahoma, to Magness William McDoniel and Minnie Gertrude (Huskey) McDoniel, Dr. McDoniel (aka Dad, PaPa, Uncle Bill and Dr. Bill) was raised with a strong work ethic and deep love for his family. After graduating from Seminole High School in 1949, he attended Tulane University for one year before transferring to the University of Oklahoma, where he earned his medical degree from the OU College of Medicine in 1956. He completed his residency at St. Anthony Hospital and proudly served as a flight surgeon in the United States Air Force from 1957 to 1959.
In June of 1956, he married Margery Kay Ross, the love of his life, who predeceased him in 2020. Together, they raised three children and shared a home filled with love, laughter, the occasional bridge game, and the joys of family life. Dr. McDoniel was deeply devoted to his family, and his greatest pride was being a father and grandfather.
Bill and Margery moved to Chickasha in 1959, where he joined the Chickasha Clinic and practiced as a family physician for nearly four decades. During his long and distinguished career, he delivered thousands of babies and cared for countless families, earning the respect and affection of the community he served.
Dad also never hesitated to devote his time and energies to public service. While a lifetime Republican, he was appointed by another Seminole High School alumnus, Democratic Governor David Boren, to the Oklahoma Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision on which he served from 1976 to 1985. He also served as a delegate from Oklahoma to the Republican National Convention in 2000.
Dr. McDoniel was passionate about life beyond medicine. An avid sailor, he spent countless hours on Oklahoma’s lakes from the 1960s to the 1980s. He was also a dedicated snow skier, the love of which he passed on to his children and grandchildren on family trips to the Colorado and New Mexico Rockies from the 1960s through the 2010s. And contrary to the outcome of Golf Digest’s 1985 contest to determine America’s Worst Avid Golfer, Dad was without peer as a dedicated, but impossibly bad, golfer. He loved the game nonetheless, remained undeterred by his lack of skill, played the game with joy and in fact made a once in a lifetime hole-in-one on the 12th hole at the Angel Fire Country Club in 2004. Above all, he was a lifelong fan of the University of Oklahoma, holding season tickets for Sooner football from the 1960s until his death and supporting the OU women’s basketball team, especially during the years his niece, Jan Ross, served as an assistant coach.
Dr. McDoniel is survived by his two sons, William and wife Julie, and Michael and wife Margaret; five grandchildren William J. McDoniel, Benjamin McDoniel and wife Hannah, Sean Jessee and wife Erin Carrick, Katie (McDoniel) Ahlgrim and husband Drew, and Ross McDoniel; great‑grandchildren Liam and Eli McDoniel, and Margot Kay Ahlgrim; son‑in‑law Drew Jessee; and many nieces and nephews, including Terri Gallaway, Kathi Powell, Julie Ross, Jan Ross, Drew Campo, Jay Ross and Mark Ross.
Dr. McDoniel was predeceased by his beloved wife Margery, his daughter Diana McDoniel Jessee, his grandson Brad Jessee, his parents and his sister Minnie Lou Andrison.
The family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to those who cared for him during his final years, including Terri and Mike Gallaway, Kathi Powell, Krista Cochran, Mica Gallaway Smith, Stacy Dick, Joyce Witte, Beverly Gregory, Scott Ray, James Tarbox, Krista Jocoy, and Sherrie Evans. Their kindness and dedication ensured that Dad’s last few years were as comfortable and happy as possible.
A funeral mass will be held at Holy Name Catholic Church in Chickasha on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, the Chickasha Public School Foundation, or a charity of your choice.
There will be a visitation with the family receiving friends on Friday, January 3 rd from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Ferguson Funeral Home.
Interment will be held in Rose Hill Cemetery under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home.
Condolences to the family may be expressed at
http://www.ferguson-funeralhome.com
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Dr. McDoniel’s life was a testament to service, dedication, and love. He will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Rest in peace, Dr. Bill.