Herbert Bertrand McDonald, M.D., 87, died peacefully at Woodland Terrace in Bothell on September 25. He was surrounded by his family, who cared for him at home during the last months of his life with the support of hospice.

Herb was born in Spokane in 1934 during the Great Depression to Edith (Cook) and Leo McDonald. After high school, he spent five years at a Jesuit seminary. Recognizing the importance of having a family of his own, Herb left the seminary and attended Gonzaga University and studied medicine at UW Medical School. Herb was a Board-Certified cardiologist. He served ten years in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. After his Army service, Herb established a cardiology practice in El Paso, Texas.

After retirement, Herb and his wife, Susan, moved to Whidbey Island. They lived in Coupeville, then Oak Harbor and in winters, Los Ayala, Mexico. Herb was a writer and a number of his stories have been published in Whidbey Writers Group anthologies.

In 2017, Herb and Susan moved to Bothell. Having been an avid skier and tennis player, Herb took up pickleball in his eighties and loved the new outlet for his competitive spirit. Herb’s life was full of many family adventures with his wife, children, grandkids, nieces, and nephews. He was also devoted to the many dogs he and Susan adopted over the years.

Herb was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, Janice McCarthy and Maureen Matera, and brother, Joseph McDonald.

Herb is survived by Susan Kauffman McDonald, his wife of 38 years; his children and their spouses Bradley (Christina) McDonald, Wendy (Chris) Florence, Kevin (Kerry) McDonald, Lynn (Tom) Pachelli, Amanda (Jimmy) Rice, Amy (Kevin) Fairchild and his grandchildren Kelia and Eli McDonald, Kennedy and Addison Florence, Adrianna, Andrew, and Yebsera Pachelli, Maureen and Michael Rice, Kaelan and Hannah Fairchild. Herb is also survived by his brothers Timothy (Laura) McDonald and James (Christy) McDonald.

Herb was buried at Sunnyside Cemetery in Coupeville. Donations in Herb’s memory to Whidbey Animals’ Improvement Foundation (WAIF) will be meaningfu