Marjorie Rachal McKinney

Marjorie R. McKinney, age 92, previous long-term Rockford, IL resident died December 7, 2014 in Arizona and found an eternal peace garden with our Lord. There, she joined her spouse of 60+ years, E. C. “Mac” McKinney, son Geoffrey, and most of her siblings. Born and raised in Hereford, England, Marjorie was a WAC in the Royal Air Force before coming to America as a war-bride in 1946. Marjorie’s rank as a WAC was a Corporal. She was responsible for dispensing uniforms and parachutes. She also was in charge of supervising dances with enlisted personnel. At one, she met a young brash Army Staff Sgt. Emery C. “Mac” McKinney who crashed the dance with his comrads. To get them to leave the dance, she had to pay for their cab fare! Eighteen months later, they married on March 10, 1945 and she came to America in 1946, coming through Ellis Island in New York. She joked that she tried to collect the cab fare for most of their married life.

Given Mac’s promise to support Marjorie, he never allowed her to work. Instead, volunteerism at Swedish American Hospital and devotion to her family were her life. Together, they had two children, Geoffrey (named after her only brother), and Barbara (named after her favorite and youngest sister, still alive at this time in England). Marjorie filled her days with homemaking duties and sewing. She helped design the houses they built and was always the painter. She loved dancing but Mac did not, until she tricked him by having a square dance caller and three couples at their home one night, to which Mac could not refuse to participate. They danced with the JABOS (Just a Bunch of Squares) dance club all over Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa and continued that love during their retirement years in Arizona in the Mesa area. Collectively they danced for over 40 years, with Marjorie making most of her square dance dresses with matching ties for Mac. They even enjoyed campouts in Illinois with dance friends once Mac retired.

When Geoffrey and wife, Ann, started their family, Marjorie assisted by providing childcare assistance to Christopher and later to Theresa. She loved children and so she welcomed them into our small family, and later great grandchildren. She enjoyed helping in any way she could and always took pride in hosting the family dinners.

Sadly, Mac died in 2005. In 2008, Marjorie, along with Barbara and Tom, made a final trip to England to see her family. It was a reunion she cherished and spoke frequently of “going home to England” much of her remaining years. Seeing that Marjorie’s mobility was beginning to be limited on that journey, Marjorie consented in 2009 to make the cross country trip with Barbara and husband, Tom, to begin a new life in the Prescott, Arizona area.

In Prescott, she was very much a part of Tom and Barbara’s life. There she enjoyed playing cards, travelling with family, camping and Shandi drinks on the deck for as long as she was able. Marjorie did not like Queen Elizabeth but she loved Princess Di. To Barbara and Tom, she will always be “Queenie”.

Always a fighter and independent person, her last year was very challenging. She refused to accept the need for a wheelchair. Consequently her falls were frequent; miraculously she only broke bones the last months of her life. Her favorite saying was “I am a bull-headed Englishman (not Englishwoman) and proud of it!” Marjorie’s final transitions were difficult as Barbara had to make decisions to choose safety over independence for her Mum.

The final weeks of her life, Marjorie found peace in the home of a wonderful caregiver named Tina. Marjorie was content, humorous and let her guard down to be loved. And it is no accident that she died on December 7, 2014, Pearl Harbor Day. It was long a bone of lively conversation that the Brits entered the war in 1939, long before the Yanks joined forces the day after Pearl Harbor in 1941. Although the day of her death came as a surprise to her doctors, caregiver and daughter, it was Marjorie living her life and choosing her death in her way. Rest in peace Mum! The war you have been fighting is finally over. No more pain, no more confusion. Only peace and love in an eternal garden.

Marjorie is survived by her daughter, Barbara (Tom) Kult, daughter in law Ann McKinney, grandchildren Christopher and Theresa McKinney, great grandchildren Sydne McKinney (Viper Unnerstall) and Michael, sibling Barbara James in England, and nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews in England and Norway.

Funeral service 2 p.m. Tuesday, December 16th, at Sunset Funeral Home, 8800 N. Alpine Road, Machesney Park; Pastor Wendell Maynard officiating. Visitation one hour prior to service. Entombment in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Condolences may be sent to the Illinois family directly or to Barbara Kult at 1095 Surrey Circle, Chino Valley, AZ 86323. Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated. Online condolences may be submitted at sunsetfhmemgardens.com