Beckham CO. OK  OBIT:  Dr. William Washington McDonald

Submitted by Lynne Hicks  hicks@mohawk.net

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The Sayre Headlight May 1916
DEATH REMOVES HONORED CITIZEN FROM OUR MIDST
After an illness lasting but five days, Dr. W.W. McDonald, one of the
pioneers of Western Oklahoma, died at the family residence on Fourth
Street Monday evening. The funeral was held from the Baptist church
Tuesday afternoon at 3 o'clock, and the remains were laid at rest in
Doxey-Sayre cemetery. The Masons, Odd Fellows, Eastern Star and Rebekah
lodges attended in a body, and the services at the grave were conducted
jointly by the Masons and Odd Fellows. The floral offerings were profuse
and beautiful, coming from personal friends and the various lodges with
which the deceased was affiliated.
Rev. J.E. Gwatkin, his pastor and close personal friend, delivered the
address at his funeral, and from this address we are permitted to print
the following extracts, which so truly portrays the life and character of
the deceased:

"Again the grim reaper has come into our midst and taken away one of our
prominent citizens, into a home and taken away a kind and indulgent
husband and father, into the fraternities represented here and taken away
a faithful member, into this church and removed a loyal brother. We bow
submissive to the hand of Providence while we come today to pay our
tribute of respect to the memory of our friend and brother, Dr. William
Washington McDonald, who was born in Lauderdale county, Mississippi,
March 15, 1867. He lived to manhood in his native state. He attended the
Cooper Normal Institute and went for his medical training to the Mobile
Medical College, at Mobile, Alabama. For a while he taught school and
then began the practice of medicine in Mississippi, but soon moved to
Lake Station, Texas, where he practiced ten years. About 1902 he came to
Oklahoma, settling between Doxey and Elk city, later moving to Doxey and
then to Sayre some seven years ago. He was married to Miss Mattie Phillips 
at Meridian, Mississippi, October 17, 1892. To this union were born four
children, the first, a daughter dying in infancy, the other three yet in
the home.

"About the age of twenty he was converted and joined a Baptist church in
Mississippi, having been interested in the work of the churches wherever
he has lived to the day of his death, May 15, 1916, aged 49 years and two
months.

"It is never my custom to eulogize the dead on an occasion of this
kind. If their lives were unworthy they would belie my words, and if they
were worthy they would speak more eloquently than I possibly could
do. This life has been lived among you for these fourteen years , and
most of you knew him. Besides, I know that it was his wish not to be
praised. The only thing I recall ever having heard him say on this
subject was that he would rather have it said of them that he had helped
some one in distress and trouble than anything else. This we can most
truly say.

"But it is justly due to his memory to recall some things, not in praise
of him, who is now beyond the reach of our praise or blame, but that they
may be of help to us here today.

"There are many things I would like to say which I can not now, but I
will speak briefly of him as a citizen, a physician, a friend and
neighbor, and a benefactor of our community.

"As a citizen he was deeply interested in the affairs of his town, of his
state and a close observer of the nation's movements. He took more than
usual interest in politics. It is no discredit to him to say he was an
ardent believer in the doctrines of his party, a strong partizan, but
nothing he ever said to me would lead me to think he put his party
interests above the good of his community or country. Rather he believed
the truest interests of his country were bound up with those of his
party. He took the keenest delight in public matters and had more than
usual insight and judgment in these things. He could be counted on for
his part in everything which was undertaken for the good of our town or
county. I recall specially his explaining what he would like for our
county to do for the benefit of the poor and dependent, along the line of
having a farm home, equipped and properly managed for their benefit.

"As a man of business he was not a success, if we count building up ones
own fortunes success. He was too easy and indulgent on those who owed him
ever to make money, and too free and liberal with what he had ever to
save it. Thousands of dollars in fees he never collected because he would
not adopt harsh measures to enforce his claims. Many times advantage was
taken of this well known leniency to his loss. But he was the most
cheerful man I every say in the midst of financial perplexities.

"As a physician he was always ready to go at any hour of the night or
day, and no weather or bad road deterred him. I went with him a number of
times to call on his patients and marked how he seemed to carry sunshine
and cheer into the sick room and that he was esteemed not only as a
doctor but as a friend by all. I never knew of his refusing to go when
called for fear of not receiving his fee because of the poverty of the
patient. But I have know of cases where he not only faithfully ministered
for months and sometimes years without even booking his calls but also
paid for prescriptions and sometimes furnished the necessaries of life to
the family. It is but just to say that no man among us will be more
missed and mourned by the poor of our community. In his long years of
practice in this county he entered many of the homes of the people and
few men have enjoyed greater popularity.

"As a friend I can not trust myself to speak of him, for it was in this
relations that I knew him best and loved him most. Coming into this
community as a stranger he took me to his home and heart and nothing he
could ever do for me seemed to be too much. He was strong in his
convictions and in his prejudices, but as true as steel to his
friendships. He was quick and impulsive, but generous to a fault, ready
to divide his last dollar with a friend or give his last dime to any one
in need.

"In disposition he was sunny and genial. He took life as easy in the
sense that he did not worry over its hardships and disappointments. Many
times I have rallied him about a motto which hung in a prominent place in
his office, and which expressed the practice of his life. "Keep on
smiling." Often when depressed and worried I have gone to his office and
always left encouraged and with a brighter view of life. He was a
confirmed optimist. No matter how dark the cloud he would find somewhere
the silver lining. I never heard him express any anxiety about the
future, except in connection with the welfare of his family; and seldom
did I talk with him during the past months that he did not in some way
reveal the fact that their welfare was on his mind.

"As a church member he made no claims to superior piety; frequently in
private conversation humbly acknowledging his deficiencies and expressing
a desire to be of more service to the cause of Christ. But he always had
the interests of his church at heart; was liberal in his support of its
enterprises; attended the Sunday services more faithfully than many
another of his profession would have done. I shall never forget his
coming, sometimes directly from a call, and passing by on his way to the
choir he would clasp the hand of his pastor with a warm grasp which
carried sympathy and appreciation. In my experience as pastor I have
never had a more loyal member to me personally. He was intensely loyal to
his denomination; yet was always ready to help other churches. I have
heard him express satisfaction several times as I have church that he had
part in building it; and it is safe to say no building of any
denomination in all this section was built without his having some share
in it.

"There are many things which my heart prompts me to say, but I feel that
he would not approve of more. My feeling is like that of the poet Gray
who closes his great Elegy with these words:

No longer seek his merits to disclose,

Or draw his frailties from their dread abode.

There they alike in trembling hope repose.

The bosom of his Father and his God.

"But this service would be incomplete if we did not draw some lessons of
help and comfort for us who remain. May we not be reminded today that we
too may hopefully take up our burdens and bear them bravely even in the
midst of disappointment and uncertainty. The world can never be just the
same to these loved ones. But they and we all will still have to face the
problems and bear the burdens of life. There is still for you most
bereaved much to live for and an important work in the world. Let us face
it with courage and look for the silver lining to all the dark clouds,
for thus we will be able to better do our own work and carry more
happiness into the lives of others.
"May we learn the lesson, which so often we have taught us on similar
occasions, that the strongest and most robust have no certain lease on
life: that in the midst of life we are in death. Perhaps few men would
have been chosen among us as destined to live a longer life. He himself
expected to live to be old.
"May we learn to dispense all the sunshine and happiness and courage by
our smile and optimism that we possibly can. May be learn that there is a
service which does not always look for the financial returns, but which
will go on in its beneficent results after we are gone from earth. May we
be able to look the future in the face without any dread or apprehension,
but with a reasonable care of the interests of those who are dependent
upon us.

"May you Masons and Odd Fellows here today tighten the bonds of your
fellowship and lengthen the cords of your benevolences from the example
of this your brother who found satisfaction in the joy of serving. And
one by one your ranks are thinning may you move closer together until
hand shall touch hand and heart beat with heart in sympathy with the woes
of humanity. May we, the members of this church, get closer to God and be
bound more strongly in the bonds of Christian love, the strongest and
most divine known on this earth!

"Specially would I plead with you men here today, members of his noble
profession: you who try to be faithful in using your skill in healing the
bodies of your fellow men: I would plead with you that you be careful tom
come for the healing of your own souls from the dread malady of sin to
the Great Physician who alone can cure them. I would say to you in the
words of a maxim one quoted by our Lord himself, "Physician, heal
thyself."

"Citizen, physician, friend and brother, farewell. But, thank God, not
forever. On a brighter shore we will meet again to part no more
forever. Upon this casket which holds his sleeping dust we place this
sincere tribute of affection. Earth has been brighter and sweeter because
we knew you, and we believe heaven will be dearer until ere long we shall
meet you there."

A CARD OF THANKS	

The undersigned take this method of trying to express tot the people of
Sayre and Beckham county their profound gratitude for the devoted
interest and generous assistance rendered in this sad hour of our
distress and bereavement. To the many faithful friends and attendants,
who so unremittingly assisted us during the illness of
Dr. W.W. McDonald: the Masons and other fraternal orders, who, with our
friends, contributed the beautiful floral offerings, we can but feebly
express our gratitude. May the blessings of heaven ever attend each and
all of you.
Mrs. Mattie McDonald
Clarence McDonald
Nettie McDonald
Abney McDonald
M.G. McDonald
Helen McDonald
Clevie McDonald
.