Billy H. "Bill" McDonald Jr.

Billy H. "Bill" McDonald, Jr., 68, of Longview, TX, passed away peacefully in his home on September 4, 2025, surrounded by his wife, Lisa, his daughter, Wendi, his sister, Beth, and his brother-in-law, Mike. Born on August 4, 1957, to the late Billy H. McDonald, Sr. and Sandra Dreyer, Bill was preceded in death by his grandparents, George and Willie McDonald and Lloyd and Margaret Webb; his uncle Bobby McDonald; his aunt Sally M. Barker Dyer; and his parents. He is survived by his wife, Lisa S. McDonald; daughters, Wendi Russell and Holli Ellison (James); grandchildren, Carter, Gavin, Seth, David, Reid, Brayden, Zach, and Briahna sister, Beth Godsey (Mike); brother, J. Timothy McDonald (Terry); mother-in-law, Mary Stewart; step-children, Ashley and Austin Tatarchuk; his uncles; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and many dear friends. Bill devoted more than 45 years to a distinguished career in construction and engineering. He began as a general helper in a family-owned business and, through dedication and skill, advanced to work with several Gulf Coast companies. Over the years, he rose to become senior construction manager for the world's largest petrochemical plant and later served with Exxon Mobil, Fluor, and Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR), retiring in 2024 as senior project manager. Among his proudest accomplishments was leading the Gulf Coast Growth Ventures project with Exxon Mobil, successfully navigating the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Guided by his mottos, "I have a moral responsibility for everyone's safety on this project" and "Leave your ego at the gate," Bill was widely admired for his humility, leadership, and unwavering commitment to excellence. Though he traveled the world and oversaw multi-billion-dollar projects, in recent years Bill's greatest joy was time spent with his family. This past summer, he found special delight in working side by side with his grandsons to get his '63 Ford Falcon running again - a memory they will carry forever. He also shared with them another passion: his love for the Houston Texans. A devoted season ticket holder since 2008, Bill rarely missed a chance to cheer on his team, and he passed that enthusiasm down to his grandsons, creating priceless memories together in the stands. A private celebration of his life will be held with his closest family and friends at a date to be determined. Bill will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. "I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise." - Luke 23:43