In the tapestry of life, a vibrant thread has ceased its weave; James Scott McDonnell, known affectionately to all as "Chick," has departed this mortal coil on the 25th of August in the year 2025.

Born under the Southern sun in Little Rock, Arkansas, on the 2nd of September in 1953, Chick's journey led him to his final rest in Albany, Oregon. His battle with cancer, fought with the same courage and determination that marked his time among us, has come to a tranquil end. Chick's essence was a blend of mirth and mastery, a man who loved with the breadth of the skies and worked with the strength of forged steel.

His legacy is cherished in the hearts of his beloved family: his devoted son, William McDonnell; his significant other, Cindy Heady; his adored grandchildren, William, Jewel, and Sophia McDonnell; sister Patricia Davis; nieces and nephews; and Patricia Johnson, a lifelong friend. His mother, Silvia Juanita McDonnell, as well as his father, Philip Higgason McDonnell, and brother, Philip McDonnell Jr., all of whom preceded him in the journey beyond. His lifelong friend, Patricia Johnson, remains to carry the torch of their shared memories.

The halls of William R. Moore College of Technology echo with the ghost of his laughter, where Chick honed his skills as an automotive mechanic, a vocation that would define his professional life. His hands, both delicate and deft, breathed life into machines, earning him the respect of all within the automotive technician community. Chick's spirit was not confined to the earthly domain of engines and gears. He was a man of many passions, a lover of music who could coax melodies from a guitar and harmonica with the ease of a bard from yesteryear. His youth was spent in the throes of athletic endeavor, where he shone on the fields of baseball, the courts of basketball, and the tracks of field events. The roar of a Harley Davidson and the craftsmanship of hotrods were his early days' companions, speaking to a soul that was unbridled and free. Describing such a man requires words of weight: loving, funny, handy.

Each term a testament to the roles he played—a tender father, a joyous partner, a skilled craftsman. In the words of the immortal poet John Donne, "No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent." Chick was indeed a piece of our continent, a part of our main, whose absence now leaves us lesser. In his spiritual journey, Chick found solace in the belief that the energy of the soul is never extinguished but merely transforms. As we bid farewell to this extraordinary spirit, let us not dwell in the shadows of grief but celebrate the brilliance of his existence. The laughter shared, the lessons imparted, and the love bestowed remain as beacons of his time with us. Fare thee well, Chick, for thou hast left an indelible mark upon this world. May the winds of heaven whisper sweetly of your legacy, and may your story be told with the reverence of a life richly lived. We release you to the ages, knowing that in the hearts of those you touched, you will forever dance to the music of eternity.