John Scott McDonald, age 56, of Harrison, Arkansas passed away Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale, Arkansas.

The son of George Aubrey McDonald and Shirley Annette (Creely) McDonald was born October 19, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee. He was a 1987 graduate of Valley Springs High School and obtained his journalism degree from Columbia School of Broadcasting.

Scott began writing at an early age and always had a way with words. He had a passion for sports reporting and journalism from the start, and he made that a lifelong career. He has covered high school sports in North Central Arkansas for many years, writing for papers in Mountain Home, Batesville, Russellville, Springdale, Oklahoma, and Harrison. He was currently working as a Content Creator for Harrison Daily Times. He was also the founder of Arkansas Sports Media Polls for High School Football and Basketball, which replaced the state AP Polls that were done away with several years ago.

Scott had an unwavering love and sense of responsibility for his family. Scott's father passed away the year he graduated high school, and he took on the role of father figure and protector for his sisters and his mother. He had the joy of walking both his younger sisters down the aisle when they married. He was so proud of his daughter and all she had accomplished.

He loved sports outside of work, especially basketball. He loved to watch his nieces and nephews play ball and was always there to cheer them on. He never met a stranger and was always ready to talk sports. Scott also enjoyed genealogy research with his mother. Together, they traveled to Mississippi and Tennessee gathering documents and information for their research.

He was preceded in death by his father, George McDonald, his mother, Shirley McDonald; and a half sister, Florence Lawrence.

Scott is survived by his daughter, Christina Moore, of Mountain View; his siblings, Kim (Mike) Eddings of Hasty, Cheryl (Larry) Henson of Mount Judea; Becky (Ernie) Campbell of Olive Branch, MS, Martha Carman of Memphis, TN, Barry (Teresa) McDonald of Memphis, TN, and Dair (Harry) Kimball of Jacksonville, FL; his aunt, Mary (Jimmy) Pegram of Holly Springs, MS; step-daughter, Marissa Delvalle (Justin); grandchildren, Karson and Kamdyn; his special friend, Christy Moore; and a host of nieces and nephews that he loved dearly.  He also leaves behind many close friends and colleagues that loved and respected Scott and will miss him dearly.

Visitation for Scott will be from Noon until 2:00 PM followed by a Celebration of Life at 2:00 PM on Monday, April 14 (2025) at Coffman Funeral Home of Harrison. Speakers will be JR Still, Jim Mears, Kevin Mathis, and Sonny Elliott. Burial will follow at Carver Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Jim Mears, Rich Sanders, JR Still, Kevin Mathis, Sonny Elliott, Neal Denton, and Keith Blair.

Honorary pallbearers are his special nieces and nephews, Hailey (Landon) Smith, Logan (Carley) Henson, Nicholas Campbell, Zach Eddings, Jacob Eddings and Katey Henson; and the staff of the Harrison Daily Times.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Coffman Funeral Home to help defray funeral expenses.

On-line condolences can be left at www.coffmanfh.com.