Gwendoff "Mac" McKinley

"We build. We fight"; "CAN DO"; "The difficult we do now, the impossible takes a little longer" That is the Seabee motto. That was “Mac” McKinley’s motto too. If you don’t know what a Navy Seabee is or what they do, dad was the man to tell you about the work they did all over the world. “When I was in the Navy…” he would say, the Seabees did everything, build roads, clear trees and even move the earth if it was necessary. That’s what he tried to do for his family too. He was always trying to move the earth, fix something or build.

Gwendoff “Mac” McKinley was 91 when drew his last breath and went to be with the Lord on Saturday September 29th, 2018. He was born and raised in Eli, Kentucky. He joined the Navy at 17 years old to fight in World War II and served as one of the first UDT ‘frogmen’ but quickly changed rates to become an efficient and outstanding equipment operator and was able to operate any kind of equipment given to him. WWII ended shortly after he joined but he later participated in the both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. While serving in Vietnam he and his teams-built roads, warehouses, hospitals and bunkers that were essential support for other units. He constructed and worked on building bases, bridges and roads all over the world. Mac loved talking about the Seabees, MCB121, MCB1, his beloved Old Kentucky home and his favorite team in the world, the Kentucky Wildcats.

Mac was a patriot all of his life with his service to the Navy and a fierce love of country. His life included being an active member at the Navy base chapel at Naval Training Center, Orlando Florida where he finished his Navy career as a company commander and “pushed boots” before he retired from the Navy.

Mac loved listening to gospel singing. He first heard the Gospel and hymns at Coffey’s Chapel with his parents in Eli, Ky. In Winter Park, Mac and Lurlene joined Aloma Methodist church and he served there many years delivering bread and doing other service work in the community of Winter Park.

The only things he loved more than UK and the Seabees

were his girls, his wife and his family members. He met and fell in love with his wife when she was 17 and playing at a wedding. He is survived by his loving sweetheart wife Eleanor-Lurlene with whom he shared almost 60 wonderful years of marriage. He is also survived by his daughter Becky her husband David Clisch their son Matthew and his wife Becky. He is survived by his daughter Janice, her husband Bryan Brooks and their children Robbie Rang, (girlfriend Stephanie), Becca Hasbrouck and her husband Anthony and their son Elijah. He is also survived by many precious nieces and nephews spread throughout the country, in Kentucky, Ohio, Georgia, Florida and California, he loved them dearly.

Mac’s dedication, hard work and love for family and will be greatly missed.

In Lieu of flowers please make donations to the Seabee Memorial Scholarship Association which helps with college scholarships. [email protected]

Interment will be at a later date at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery.