Obituary submitted by Travis Kukull.

Peter McDonald died Thursday, Aug. 26 in his sleep while camping on a Lake Champlain beach in Vermont. He was visiting family and had planned to return to Haines the next day.

His death was a shock to friends in Haines and his family in Vermont. Peter was 51 years old, although he told me he was 47 when we celebrated his birthday last January. I thought Peter would far outlive me because in my mind he was ageless. My wife and I joked that he was Peter Pan because he was so unchanging in his physical appearance over the 16 years we were friends.

Peter was born in Farmington, Massachusetts. His parents were David and Elisabeth McDonald. He had been transient most of his life having lived in Martha's Vineyard and Vermont as child and young adult. After graduating with a degree in fine arts from Castleton State College in Vermont he decided he wanted to travel. He worked as a park ranger for a short while in Nevada, lived in Maui and spent a few winters in Bellingham, WA. He first traveled to Haines 16 years ago on a whim after he read an article in Outdoor Magazine proclaiming Haines as one of America's best small towns. I met him that same summer when we both worked at the Halsingland Hotel. I worked in the kitchen and Peter worked wherever he was needed around the hotel. He was a very hard worker and when he worked in the kitchen he was always a great help. It wasn't long after we met that he asked me if I would like to go hiking with him. Our first hike together was to Chilly Ridge. It was a magical first hike for the both of us and that time we spent there made us both fall head over heels in love with Haines.

He returned to Haines for many summers and for a couple of winters. He struggled to find a permanent home as he lived between Haines and Vermont. Last winter he rented the basement apartment in my house, and, along with Jessica Killeen, we formed a family unit. The bond we created helped us through the isolation of a pandemic, and as summer approached Peter came to the decision that he would make Haines his permanent home.

When he would leave Haines he would always say he would never be back and he would tell me and others, "goodbye forever." This summer, when he left for a visit to Vermont, it was the only time he said he would see us in a month.

At the time he left for his visit to Vermont, I had never seen him happier. He was playing with his band, Wild Baby, a Haines super group, and enjoying every second of his existence. His band mates Tim Hockin, Melina Shields, Jimmy Lampkins, Kelsi Gloyer, Jae McDermaid, Marley Horner, and Henry Leasia quickly became his family. He loved every one of them dearly.

He was also getting regular jobs painting houses. He established himself in Haines and he was thankful and content with his accomplishments.

Peter loved his friends, hiking, camping and good vegetarian food. He loved and respected so many beautiful and talented women, but most of all he loved music and playing his guitar. He practiced with every free moment he had. He could play any song after listening to it just once. He had an eclectic respect for all genres of music and we spent many nights listening to and talking about some of his favorites, which included Danzig, Angelo Badalamenti from his work with Twin Peaks, King Tuff, Childbirth, PJ Harvey and Nick Cave.

Peter was shy in many aspects, but on stage while playing with bands The Corvids and Wild Baby, he was an absolute spellbinding, face melting, rock star cowboy-legend. He would shed his skin when he held his "Baby," his Fender Stratocaster, in his arms. Peter was a minimalist when it came to possessions. All his stuff could fit in his backpack, but his guitar was the one item he kept with pride.

Peter leaves behind his sister Amy McDonald, her husband Michael Vita, their children Jonah, Olivia, and Kieley, his sister Ann Cox and her husband Terry with their children Calvin and Ethan, and his foster brother David Taylor and his children Sarah and Chris.

Peter left this world happy, accomplished, and without pain or anger. He was kind and gentle and never actively did anything to harm another human being; he loved all creatures, even the bears who he had countless terrifying encounters with.

Peter will be missed dearly by his family and by the people who were lucky enough to know him. I personally will still look for him in every living memory I have, hoping to see him riding his bike on an icy road while wearing all black in the middle of winter, and drinking tea, sitting under the apple tree in my yard playing his guitar, winning pool tournaments at the Pioneer bar (he was a pool shark and I never once beat him) and at the brewery enjoying a stout while covered in paint after a long day up a tall ladder. Most of all I will look for his smile. It was a reticent smile, and said two things, that he loved you and that he was truly your friend. The honor was all mine Peter.