Marion Fitzhugh "Mac" McDonald

August 24, 1918 to August 21, 2014

McDONALD, Mr. Marion "Mac" Fitzhugh, age 95 of Port Orange, Fl, formerly of Plymouth, slipped away away into the arms of Jesus August 21, 2014 just three days shy of his 96th birthday. He is survived by his loving wife of 31 years, Mary Ellen (Hooper) McDonald; three daughters: Sarena Tanner of Kennesaw, GA., Becky Apple (Jerry) of Brown Summitt, N.C. and Elizabeth "Tibby" Reeves, and one stepdaughter, Bethany of N.Y. Eleven grandchildren: Laurie (Dan) Kamunen of Spring Hill, TN., Chad (Joelle) Hunter of Ormond Beach, FL, Lawrence "Buck" (MaryBeth) Tanner of Black Mountain, N.C., Sara (Rob) Dynan of Sarasota, Fla., Brett (Carla) Whitson of Ormond Beach, FL., Adriane (Matt) Burkette of Orlando, FL., Austin Reeves of Winter Park, FL., Ryan McDonald of Eustis, FL., Jennifer McDonald of Orlando, FL., Bobby Tyre, Jr. of Eustis, FL, Rachel Symons (BJ) of Eustis, FL and 16 great-grandchildren. Mac is preceded in death by his parents, Marion Fitzhugh and Jean Ittner McDonald; his sister, Jean and his son, Marion "Laddie" Fitzhugh McDonald, Jr. Mac McDonald was most known for being a member of The Living Legends of Auto Racing, having raced the 150 mile beach/road course in Daytona between the years of 1937 and 1946 at the urging of his boss, Bill France, Sr. His outlandish driving style, in addition to taking the comers on two wheels, made him a crowd favorite. He earned the nickname "Mad Marion" when fans witnessed him driving by his pit without slowing and grabbing a cheeseburger out of the hands of one of his pit crew as he continued in the race while eating. After a crash sent a guardrail through his front windshield and out the back in 1946, Mac decided to stop racing. But that was not the end of his adventurous lifestyle. Mac also became a pilot when someone who owed him money paid him back in flying lessons. Having earned his pilot's license, he built McDonald Air Field on Highway 441 in Plymouth and became a member of the Flying Farmers of America. Mac started a charter flying service and was the pilot for two of Florida's governors in the 1940's and 50's. He was also awarded a Civil Air Patrol medal for flying an ambulance service during WWII. Mac's "fly by the seat of his pants" flying style was as entertaining in the air as he was on the race track. In 1973, Mac received a commendation award by the Florida Highway Patrol for single-handedly saving the life of a 3 year old boy trapped in a car that had gone off the road and into a canal. In later years, Mac continued to overhaul engines and work on cars in his garage, as was his passion. He enjoyed spending time at the Sunglow Pier and was a regular in the restaurant there as well as attending Legends of Nascar events and signing autographs at the track. Mac, who was forever young-at-heart, even phoned one of his granddaughters when he was 88 years old to say that he was in South Carolina and had just finished racing on a dirt track and that he still loved to drive fast. Mac and his wife Mary were members of Port Orange United Church of Christ Church. Mary is appreciative and overwhelmed by the assistance she has received from their church family during Mac's brief illness and stay in the Port Orange Hospice care facility. The world seems a little less adventurous without Mac in it and he will be greatly missed by his family, friends and all who knew him. A "Celebration of Life" Memorial Service will be held at Port Orange United Church of Christ on September 13, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be 10:30, prior to the service. Memorials may be made out to Hospice of Port Orange or to the Church.