Don Stevenson McGuire
Don Stevenson McGuire always surprised us. There were few people he met in life whom he did not affect.
Don died very suddenly, but peacefully, on December 11, 2015 near his home in Pebble Beach, California where he lived with his loving wife of 29 years, Clay Felchlin McGuire.
Don was born in San Francisco on May 21, 1950 to Elinor Stevenson McGuire of Portland, Oregon and John Clark McGuire from Hingham, Massachusetts. After a varied educational experience at schools here and abroad, Don settled into the San Francisco Art Institute and was deeply inspired by his photography professor, Jerry Burchard. Don was a wonderful photographer and really brought out the soul of his subjects as well as producing perfect prints and images. Later with digital equipment, he was integral in the family’s business, The McGuire Furniture company where he ran the in- house publicity department.
When Don and Clay retired to their favorite place on earth, Pebble Beach, they became engrossed in Whippets, raising champions and racing winners and becoming very active in the rescue and placement of needful dogs. Sometimes having up to seven dogs in their personal care at one time, Don would cut quite an eccentric figure shepherding a brace of the elegant creatures through the woods of Del Monte and on the beaches of Big Sur.
Don is survived by his wife Clay, his only sister Jean Coleman, of Portland, Oregon, her five beautiful children by Page Coleman, Mark, Amanda, Jessie, John, and Don, and the large, close Clan of his Stevenson Cousins of the Pacific Northwest, and his bothers- in- law Chris and Tim Felchlin, and Vera Felchlin, nephew Chris Felchlin and his boys Jake and Alex, niece Sarah Underhill and her boys Mason and Cedar, and the three remaining whippets: Monty, Tiger and Luna. Don will be missed by all, including his close friend and mentor Frank Doodha of Ross, California and the wonderful members of the Whippet Associations who meant so much to him.
A Celebration of Life will be held from 5: 00 to 8: 00 PM on the 20th of February at the Beach and Tennis Club, 1576 Cypress Drive, Pebble Beach, California.