Robert E. McDonald III

1958 – 2024

Bobby passed away on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at Monument Health Hospital in Deadwood, South Dakota. He was 66 years old. Bobby was born in Denver, Colorado on August 4, 1958, and he was raised in Aurora, CO.

He was preceded in death by his father, Robert E. McDonald Jr. His father was a retired 20+ year Master Sargent in the US Air Force and a Vietnam War Veteran.

Bobby is survived by his mother, Sharon; sisters, Lee Ann, Arlyn, and Kyle; sons, Cameron and Collin; nieces, Elexis, Karlee, and Kaitlyn; five grandnephews, Zander, Marshall, Jasper, Mason, and Sawyer. He is also survived by his life partner, Merryse Gillespie.

Bobby watched the Beatles when he was five years old on the Ed Sullivan Show. He was inspired to teach himself how to play guitar. He played lead guitar his entire life. He was a master at it. Bobby could listen to a song and pick up how to play it. He had perfect pitch, so his guitars were always in tune. He enjoyed building guitars as well. Bobby could look at any guitar and tell what it was, and what year it was made. He also loved all animals, he enjoyed gardening and feeding the birds with his little Shih Tzu, Ellie Mae.

A Memorial will be held at a later date.