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John Joseph Donovan II

September 13, 1936 — July 13, 2018

John Joseph Donovan II

John “Jack” Joseph Donovan II was RETURNED TO HIS SENDER on July 13, 2018 at the age of 81.

Jack was born September 13, 1936, in Darby, Pennsylvania, to John Joseph and Edith Jeanne (Smith) Donovan. Growing up with his older sister Suzanne, Jack graduated from Murphy-Newton High School in Larchmont, Pennsylvania. He went on to receive his Bachelor of Science degree in zoology from the University of Pittsburg. While there, he enjoyed being a member of Delta Tau Delta social fraternity and Beta Beta Beta honorary fraternity.

Jack served our country in the United States Navy for 20 years. He served on seven different submarines of the submarine corps, which was amazing considering how tall he was. He saw a lot of water and numerous ports around the world. He received a number of ribbons and medals for his service. It was difficult for him to leave his children John Joseph III and Melissa Ann and be deployed for months at a time. After leaving the military, Jack became a Marine Fire Instructor at Brayton Fire Field at Texas A&M University. He loved training firemen and was an excellent teacher. Long before retiring he became the manager of the fire field. He loved driving the field’s antique fire truck in every Christmas parade possible.

Even in his free time, Jack continued his love of helping others. He joined the Brazos Valley Community Emergency Response Team, and later the Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Habitat for Humanity. In 2014 Jack received the President’s Volunteer Service Award from President Obama and congratulatory resolutions from state senators of Districts 12 and 14, and from the Commissioner’s Court of Brazos County. He loved people and enjoyed being helpful to others.

Jack met his loving wife, Sandra Melville, through their mutual interest in quilts and antique sewing machines. Their first date was to go get yogurt. The pair was married three times. The first time was an elopement to Montrose, Pennsylvania, because they couldn’t wait for the ceremony they had planned for four months later. Their second ceremony was in September 1994, at the construction site of their new home, and included their families. Their third ceremony was in January 2018, when they were married by Deacon Dave Mays at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.

Jack had a good sense of humor. He was always happy and smiling everyday. He told jokes to cheer others. One year he decided to have a “doggie” themed Christmas. He built a doghouse frame for the front door and made himself a dog costume. The family ate their Christmas dinner from dog bowls.

He enjoyed woodworking such as furniture and table items. He always built a tool shed wherever he lived. His wife even had to move her vintage car out of the garage to accommodate his growing collection. He enjoyed working on projects for around the house as well as reading (especially History), beekeeping, jewelry making, and gardening.

Jack rediscovered his Catholic teachings and renewed his faith while hospitalized for several months with an infection. Afterwards, he joined St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, where he joined Bible study groups and ACTS. He made rosaries for the church bookstore and Baylor Scott and White Hospital gift shop, and volunteered at both. His faith was very important to him, and he felt very blessed to go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. One of his favorite sayings was “Anything a man makes can be fixed by man, and anything God makes is fixed with prayer.”

Jack leaves behind his wife Sandra Hillier Melville-Donovan, his son and daughter-in-law John Joseph Donovan III and his wife Amelia of Honolulu, Hawaii, his daughter Melissa Ann Dumouchel of Beaufort, South Carolina, his stepson Russell Marcontell and his wife Shawna Manning, his stepdaughter Kelly Marcontell, his stepdaughter Kimberley Keefe, his step granddaughter Emily Keefe, his sister Suzanne A. Chinnici, his sister-in-law Karen Hillier, several nieces, and eight dogs.

To honor Jack’s life, his family has planned a Rosary and Mass of Christian Burial at 10 AM on Saturday, July 28, 2018 at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church with a Celebration Reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, Jack’s family requests donations be made to St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church Bookstore at 2541 Earl Rudder Freeway S. College Station, Texas 77845 or to Patriot Paws Service Dogs 254 Ranch Trail Rockwall, Texas 75032.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John Joseph Donovan II, please visit our flower store.

Past Services

Rosary

Saturday, July 28, 2018

Starts at 10:00 am

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church

2541 Hwy 6, Valley Mills, TX 76689

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Mass of Christian Burial

Saturday, July 28, 2018

Starts at 10:00 am

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church

2541 Hwy 6, Valley Mills, TX 76689

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Reception

Saturday, July 28, 2018

Starts at 11:00 am

St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church

2541 Hwy 6, Valley Mills, TX 76689

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

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