Gay Martin McKinley

Gay Martin McKinley, 90 of Lumberton, passed away Saturday, February 20, 2016, at home. He was born September 25, 1925 in Beaumont, to Arthur McKinley and Eunice Rollins McKinley. He was a resident of Beaumont until 4 years ago when he and his wife, Ruth, moved to Lumberton to be near their son and daughter-in-law.

Gay graduated from South Park High School in 1943 and attended Lamar University after serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He retired from Mobil Chemical Coating Division and Valspar after 39 years of working in the Paint Mill at Mobil.

He married Ruth Carter in 1948 and they raised their three sons in Beaumont. As a family they traveled and camped in every state except the northwestern states. The family enjoyed the outdoors and fished and hunted throughout Texas and neighboring states.

Gay and Ruth enjoyed cruising and visited Australia, New Zealand, Alaska, Northern Europe and many places in the Caribbean.

Gay was a talented man. For years, he and Ruth traveled the U.S. hunting rocks which Gay cut, polished and made into jewelry. The last few years, Gay enjoyed carving fish, birds and animals from wood. He also enjoyed painting pictures of wildlife and outdoor scenes.

He was an Eagle Scout and was associated with the Boy Scouts of America for over 40 years. He served as scout master of Troop 16 at Giles Elementary in Beaumont, and after his boys became scouts, he was the scout master of Troop 15 at Pietzsch Elementary, also in Beaumont.

Gay will be remembered as a man of few words, and those softly spoken. A man who loved his church and his family. A man with a kind and generous spirit.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his son, Jackie Lynn McKinley, and brothers, Arthur Lee, Reagan and Aaro McKinley.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, sons, Jerry McKinley and wife, Georgia of Lumberton, James McKinley and wife, Gail of Baytown, sisters, Lydia Douglas of Vidor and Verdie Faye Hellweg of Beaumont, 6 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

A gathering of family and friends will be Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016, from 5-7:00 p.m. at Forest Lawn Funeral Home. Services will be Wednesday, February 24, 2016, at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home followed by burial at Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 4445 Pershing, Beaumont, TX 77705 or to the charity of your choice.