Mac passed away at his home in Congress, AZ succumbing to the cancer that he had fought so well for the last few years. He died shortly after a recent visit from his sister, Linda McJunkin Cloutier and her husband, Dean. They left him under the good care of Hospice and cyclist friend's Don and Beth Huston.
Mac approached his death the way he did everything; "trying to get his head around it," staying as fit as possible and not worrying too much about the details; he always was more interested in the big picture. In the end, he stayed on his bike as long as possible, he said farewell to as many as possible and kept up the good fight as bravely as possible.
Mac was born in Dallas, Texas, immediately adopted by Lloyd and Lena (Bryson) McJunkin (both deceased) and raised in the countryside of Tipp City, OH and then Mt. Clemens, MI along with his adopted younger sister, Linda. Throughout their lives, Mac and Linda would have a loving and close relationship. It seemed that from the beginning Mac was destined for a life of challenge and adventure. At age two, he climbed out his bedroom window one evening and was found climbing a statue on the town green before he was brought home.
After attending Port Huron J.C. and employment at GM in Detroit, Mac was drafted and served in the US Army 101st Airborne Division. He was deployed to Vietnam where he was wounded in action; then needing a blood transfusion, he acquired Hepatitis C from tainted blood. This was the genesis of his demise that would be over 50 years later. He eventually was treated at Walter Reed Hospital and discharged honorably with a Purple Heart.
Mac would go on to live an amazing life as a premier athlete, avid reader and deep thinker. Although he was married for a short time, he lived life largely as a single man with companions, friends and his small family providing the meaningful relationships in his life. He lived in California for many years and owned a mountaineering shop, "Mountain Affair", in Laguna Beach. During this time his interest in cycling began. Years later, he lived with his companion, Bernice in Bluffton, SC. While there he owned a bike shop, he would eventually call "Road Fish" on Hilton Head Island, which remains to this day.
Mac loved God's creation and the great outdoors; he especially enjoyed rock/mountain climbing, hiking and cycling. He climbed El Capitan in Yosemite, rode in numerous, high level cycling events, even winning some! He rode in "Ride the Rockies", across Georgia, South Carolina, Oregon and events in Mexico and California, while other men his age, would be resting in easy chairs. Until recently he was hiking up desert peaks in Arizona and riding his bike 60 miles a day.
Mac leaves behind his loving sister, Linda and her husband Dean, some distant family and a host of saddened friends. He loved to post his thoughts and articles of interest on Face Book and kept in touch with a wide and eclectic group of people. Mac was unique and in his own way touched the lives of many. His interest in others, a love of learning and sharing that knowledge was Mac at his very best. We will all miss him and though he wanted to reach out to many more of his friends, his strength failed and he accepted the end with peace and dignity.
All are invited to celebrate the life of Mac McJunkin by remembering him with a donation in His name to one of the charities listed on this page.
We also invite you to share your memories, stories and legends of Mac here on his page. Nothing helps us more with closure than shring with one another. Mac always loved stories! Finally, thank you to those who joined Mac on his journey through life and for caring for a beloved brother.
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