Michael Lamar McDonald, a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps, passed away April 20, 2024. The son of Mildred Loraine and Henry Lamar McDonald, Mike grew up in Converse, Louisiana. He was born December 22, 1949 at Allen Sanitarium in Converse, LA and attended Converse High School.

At the age of 18, Mike enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He valued this service highly and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. As part of this service, he was awarded Meritorious Mast, Good Conduct Medal with one star, National Defense Service Medal, and Certificate of Commendation.

After his Honorable Discharge from the Marine Corps, he went on to have a successful carrier in the electronics field, working for Bell South, AT&T, Motorola, and various other medical companies repairing defibrillators and other life saving equipment. During this time he also practiced martial arts, having achieved his 3rd degree black belt in Shotokan, while teaching many others to follow this same path.

In 1989 Mike began his longest and most successful carrier with the United States Department of State in Washington D.C. as a telecommunication specialist and security detail for many notable heads of state. This career would take him to over 100 foreign countries and living 9.5 years in 4 of these. His most notable achievement was earning his Meritorious Honor Award for his actions following the August 7, 1998 Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania embassy bombing. His level headedness garnered from 8 years in the Marines combined with his years of telecomm experience proved to be vital in restoring and rebuilding American interests in the region.

Following his retirement from government service, Mike spent his remaining years in Keithville, LA, enjoying time with friends and family, taking on the odd security job and on occasion working as a Correctional Officer in Caddo Parish.

Mike is survived by his son and daughter-in-law Michael Ian and Deborah McDonald, daughter and son-in-law Kimberly and James Wright, brother and Sister-in-law John and Jill Hicks, and several grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

His loved ones will remember his steadfast and unbreakable will, technical prowess, jovial approach to life, and friendly demeanor towards everyone he met . A service honoring the life of Michael Lamar McDonald will be held at Aulds Funeral Home at 2pm, April 26, 2024.