In Loving Memory of
Gerald “Jerry” McKinley
1926 – 2015
Gerald (Jerry) Gregory Andrew McKinley passed away suddenly in his home at Evergreen Acres in Clearwater, British Columbia on February 8, 2015. He was 88 years of age. Jerry was born to parents George and Donna Mae McKinley on August 23, 1926 in Fort William, Ontario.
He married his life partner, Iris Viola “Lil” Danielson in Beardmore, Ontario on August 23, 1947. Iris “Lil” McKinley died in 2013 after they spent 66 years together; not a day went by that Dad did not miss her since she passed. They travelled through life together, raising a family and working side by side.
Jerry was also predeceased by his brothers Bud, Mike and Bob McKinley, as well as his mother and father Donna and George McKinley. He is survived by his brother Larry McKinley (Carey), daughters Doreen Romeo (Lloyd) and Iris Houchen (Art), his son Daniel McKinley, four grandchildren and five great grandchildren, also Bud’s family living in Ontario.
In the late war years, Jerry came to British Columbia with his dad, George, to work on the trucks on the Alaska Highway. He moved with his family from Ontario in 1949 and with his mom, Donna, bought a three ton truck. They worked together horse-logging the property and hauling fence posts to Nelson to be sold. Between the fence post money and a little coming in from the sales in the store they were able to survive.
Jerry was self employed most of his working life. He was a logger, truck driver, owner of an Esso station in Revelstoke and later he purchased a loader and dump truck. In 1975 he semi-retired and worked the summers traveling around British Columbia with his gravel truck sealcoating highways; Lil would pull the fifth wheel and follow him.
He was in the army for about a year before being discharged. Being a member of the Royal Canadian Legion was very important to him; he was also a member of the Kinsman Club when he lived in Revelstoke. Jerry loved to fish, hunt and travel the back roads.
A special memory: “I remember Dad saying when he was in Grade 7 the teacher said there wasn’t room for both of them in the classroom, one of them had to leave, so Dad did.”
A gathering to celebrate Jerry’s life will take place from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 17, 2015 at the McKinley River Campground, 1800 Old North Thompson Highway North in Blackpool, BC. It may be seen online at www.NTFuneral.com. Arrangements entrusted to North Thompson Funeral Services, Clearwater, BC, tel. 250-674-3030.