DONALD WADE ‘DON’ MCBAY
Donald Wade “Don” McBay passed away on Jan. 1, 2022, in Fairfield at the age of 78. Graveside services were at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 4, in the LaSalle Cemetery (788 FM 1953) with Kyle Roberts, Tommy Roberts and Karl Kimsey officiating.
Pallbearers were Tyler Barker, Jake Cherry, Frank Barker, Keb Roberts, Koby Roberts, and Bryan Chavers. Honorary pallbearers were Bob Hamilton, Warner Dean Hancock, Von Wade, Don Posey, Jimmy Clark and Maurice Burleson.
Visitation with the family was from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Blair-Stubbs Funeral Home.
Don was born Aug. 30, 1943, in Mexia to A.B. and Udean (Milburn) McBay. On Sept. 6, 1964, in Jefferson he married his lifelong partner, Jerri Earlene Roberts.
Don was in public education for 33 years. He taught junior high science for three years in Mesquite while attending East Texas State University in Commerce to earn his master’s degree in counseling. He and his family then moved to Bryan, where he worked as a public-school counselor for six years. In 1974 they moved to Fairfield, where Don retired in May 1998 after working 24 years as a counselor for Fairfield High School. Don had not planned to retire, but his health began to decline and retirement became necessary.
During his time at FHS, he and Jerri moved to Dew for 8 ½ years, where Don enjoyed his country life, as he knew he would. In 2003 they moved back into Fairfield after Don began having more health issues and was concerned about the possibility of Jerri having to live alone in the country. While he was still living, he wanted to get her established in a neighborhood, where he felt she would be safer. After moving into their new home, he enjoyed spending endless evenings on the porch in the backyard watching the birds and whatever other critters may wonder into the yard.
Don enjoyed fishing in his younger years along with deer hunting. The deer hunting continued until he was no longer strong enough to enjoy the trips to the lease. Although Don really did very little hunting the last 10 or so years that he was on the deer lease, he still very much enjoyed spending time with his deer-lease family, some of whom had been friends since childhood. Sitting around a campfire, visiting and sharing stories was one of the highlights of the trips to the deer lease. He started hunting at the age of 16 and continued until he was 75.
Don also enjoyed going to Colorado for vacations. Once he and Jerri discovered the area north of Pagosa Springs, they returned every time they could. When traveling with a trailer became too difficult, they stayed in cabins at Sportsman’s Campground. The employees of the campground, as well as other campers, became good friends during this time.
Each summer from 1979 until 2010, the family would spend a week either in Rockport or Port Aransas. This annual trip was always made by the families of Don McBay and Bob Hamilton. As the families grew, the group grew. One summer, there were 23 members of family and friends spending a fun week together at the beach. Time with family and friends was always a very important part of Don’s life.
Don was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church of Fairfield.
He was preceded in death by his parents, A.B. and Udean McBay; a son, Jeffrey Keith McBay; and a grandson, Jeffrey Scott McBay.
Don is survived by his wife of 57 years, Jerri McBay of Fairfield; a son, Scott McBay, and a daughter, Renee` McBay; a granddaughter, Cameron Harmon and husband Kyle of Maurice, La.; two sisters, Diana McBay Bradley of Waco and Janet McBay Caddy of New Iberia, La.; a niece, Ryan Lynn Burleigh; and three nephews, Jay Daniels, Stephen Bradley and Mark Bradley.
Memorials may be made to the LaSalle Cemetery, P.O. Box 215 or charity of choice.
Please visit www.blairstubbs.com to leave the family a message of condolence or sign the guest book.
