Dr. Malcolm Deaton McAuley Junior went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at the North Mississippi Medical Center, Tupelo at the age of 85, one month shy of his 86th birthday. He was born October 18, 1938 in Memphis, Tennessee to the late Malcolm Deaton McAuley and Grace Towery McAuley of Byhalia. He grew up in Byhalia, Mississippi where he graduated high school and then attended Southwestern College, now known as Rhodes College. He did attend summer school at Ole Miss during his pre-med curriculum. While in College in Memphis, he met his wife of 57 years, the late Beth Rieves McAuley of Marion, Arkansas.
He attended the University Of Mississippi Medical Center and graduated in 1963, and did his internship at the University of Tennessee in Memphis. He spent two years in the Air Force and was stationed at Columbus Air Force Base. This was followed by an Ear Nose and Throat residency at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, followed by private practice at Norwood Clinic and Caraway Medical Center in Birmingham for ten years before deciding to get closer to his family and home in Mississippi. He relocated to Tupelo and in 1977 and joined Tupelo Ear Nose and Throat Clinic where he practiced until his retirement at the age of 75 in 2014. After the passing of his first wife, he was married to Cindy Sanders McAuley for 10 ½ years until his death.
Dr. McAuley will be remembered for the exceptional care and love that he provided to the patients throughout North Mississippi.
He loved his family and children. He was especially fond of Christmas and the pleasure that he had in surprising all the children and grandchildren with wonderful gifts throughout the years. He always enjoyed a house full of family around the holidays.
Anyone who spent five minutes with our father would know immediately that he had a farm in Red Banks, Mississippi, that he loved immensely. Many days were spent bird hunting followed by turkey and deer hunting with family and friends. It was truly a special place for him and his family.
He was a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder as well as on the finance committee.
He loved Ole Miss Football and traveling, especially in his latter years. He and Cindy enjoyed traveling the world these past ten years with multiple trips to Europe and even to the Holy Land as well as all over the United States.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Grace and Deaton MuAuley, and his first wife, Beth Rieves McAuley.
He is survived by his four children, Mac McAuley (Dawn), Jim McAuley (Kim), Robert McAuley (Michelle), and Marybeth Ross (Alex); 12 grandchildren, Deaton McAuley, Katy McAuley Atha, Caroline McAuley, Michelle McAuley Hill, James Rieves McAuley, John McAuley, Rob McAuley, Ferrell McAuley Lanier, Brooke McAuley, McAuley Ross, Alston Ross, and Van Ross; and his current wife, Cindy Sanders McAuley; along with four great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be 5 until 7 p.m. Friday, September 20, 2024 at Pegues Funeral Directors, Tupelo.
Services celebrating Dr. McAuley’s life will be 10 a.m. Saturday, September 21, 2024 at First Presbyterian Church with Rev. John Brock officiating. Burial will be in the McAuley Family Cemetery in Redbanks.
His grandsons will serve as pallbearers. His good friend, Jeff Reeder will serve as honorary pallbearer.
In lieu of flowers, in honor of Dr. McAuley’s love of dogs, donations may be made to the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society, P.O. Box 2143, Tupelo, MS 38803
