Rodney Mark McDonnell's Obituary
Our loving husband, father, brother, and friend passed away in a car accident. Mark was born to Rodney and Beatrice McDonnell in Clute, Texas. Mark began singing as soon as he could speak and was an inaugural member of the Austin Boy’s Choir in Austin, TX. Mark loved Texas and was raised there until he turn 19 when he left on a service mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Finland speaking Finish. In 1984 Mark moved to Provo, Utah to attend school at Brigham Young University. He loved performing for others and began on stage performance in 1981 with his rendition of File in 110 in the Shade. Additional productions include: Ruddigore: The Witch’s Curse, BYU (1984), Inherit the Wind, BYU (1985), Enemy of the People, BYU (1992), Falstaff, BYU (1993), Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Provo Tabernacle (2000), A Christmas Carol, Hale Center Theater (2009) and H.M.S. Pinafore, Valley Center Playhouse (2010), Hairspray, Sierra Theater (2010). Mark served active duty in the US Air Force from 1987 to 1992. In 1991 he auditioned with 8,000 other active duty contestants for Top’s-n-Blue, a variety show that travels around the globe performing for Airmen and their dependents. Mark was one of the 22 finalists selected to perform with this elite group, but he turned down the opportunity to continue pursuing his Bachelor’s Degree at BYU – where he met and married his wife of 17 years, Jennifer Lynne Auger. Mark and Jennifer were sealed in the Logan Temple following a family tradition that spans back to Jennifer’s grandparents. Mark continued to be an active member of his church and his community until the day he died. Together they raised a beautiful family consisting of Austin (16 years old), Sierra (14 years old), Autumn (11 years old), Celeste (9 years old), Christopher (5 years old) and Wyatt (3 years old). Mark loved playing sports but his greatest love was coaching his children in sports. Mark had a knack for starting the children playing as soon as they could walk. Mark’s favorites were baseball, football, softball, and golf. Mark was a friend to all. He remembered everyone he met and the many details about their life. You couldn’t go anywhere with Mark without him running into a dear friend. Mark knew a little bit about everything and a lot about nothing which made him a fierce competitor in any board game, which was a favorite family pastime. Mark was deeply loved and will be sorely missed. Funeral services held 11:00 am, Saturday, October 23, 2010 at the LDS Stake Center at 1176 North 730 East, Pleasant Grove, UT where friends may call prior to services at 10 am. Interment with military honors at the Pleasant Grove Cemetery.
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