Terry McDonald

Terry Dale McDonald, 61, of Abilene, passed away on Wednesday, December 17, 2025 in Abilene.

Visitation will be 2:00pm-4:00pm Sunday, December 21, 2025 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road.

Funeral services will be held 1:00pm Monday, December 22, 2025, at First Baptist Church Buffalo Gap with the Derrick Looney of Gardendale Church, officiating. Services are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road.

Terry was born in Coleman, Tx to Bill and Joyce McDonald on December 23, 1963. He went to school at Abilene Wylie. He graduated from Angelo State University with a bachelor's and Lamar University with a master's degree of Education He married Glenda McCandless McDonald on July 19,1986 in Stamford, Tx. He worked as a Teacher, Coach, Athletic Director and Administrator for Alvord, Hawley, Forsan, and Wylie ISDs for 39 years total his longest stint being at Forsan ISD where he was for 25 years. He was a long-time member of Trinity Baptist Church in Big Spring followed by First Baptist Church Buffalo Gap. He received many awards during his time as a coach and administrator including Coach of the Year many times and Administrator of the Year. He concluded his coaching career as one of the winningest basketball coaches in the State of Texas at the time. He was well regarded by all his students and athletes as someone who always saw the potential in students and helped push them to succeed in sports, school, and life after. Many coaches today are coaches because of Coach Mac. He was also a great leader and mentor to his coaches and faculty during his time as athletic director and principal, always encouraging and leading them to be the best they could be.

Terry was preceded in death by his father Bill, his mother Joyce, and his older brother Michael.

Terry is survived by his wife Glenda, his children Shelby McDonald and Shay Long, Jansen and Emily McDonald. His sisters Glenda (Doug) McMahan, Debbie (Charles) Ford, and Pam (Philip) Ulcak. His favorite people are his grandchildren Summer, Slayden, Scout and Stratton Long and Charlie, Theodore, and Carter McDonald. And numerous well-loved nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Matthew Ulcak, Austin Ulcak, Weston Langford, Kyle Ford, Landon Nauert, Karsen Kalen, Rick Stover, Jason Handlin, Chad Martin, Blake Handlin, Andrew Handlin, Isaiah Grose.