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© Marietta Monitor
26 Feb 2021, Page 4
Source: © Watts Funeral Home
Born October 10, 1923 southwest of Marietta, the son of Ben H. McKay and Lura L. Reasoner McKay, he died Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at Mercy Health Love County, Marietta. A lifelong resident of Marietta, Frank enlisted in the U.S. Navy on May 5, 1944 and served on the U.S.S. Mifflin (APA207) as landing craft captain in the Pacific Campaign. On February 19, 1945, he landed some of the first troops at Iwo Jima, a battle he did not expect to survive. He lived 76 years to the day after witnessing the U.S. flag being raised on Mt Suribachi, crossed the equator and received numerous medals for his service.
He and Betty Sue Willis were married on November 23, 1946 and she preceded him in death on July 7, 2005, following 59 years of marriage. McKay farmed and ranched his property in rural Love County his entire life, raising lots of kids, cattle, cotton, corn, hogs and hay. He enjoyed working at the local cotton gin and livestock sales and worked briefly for the railroad and for construction crews, helping build Interstate 35 across Love County. He was a founding member of the Love County Junior Livestock Show; served as an ASCS committee member and was a lifelong member of the Burch Brothers Post 136 of the American Legion in Marietta.
In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by three siblings, J B McKay, Lanelle Lawson, and Fred McKay, and daughter-in-law Connie McKay.
Survivors include his children, Charles McKay, Lynn Butler and husband Lester, Luann McMillin and husband Ricky, and Willis McKay and wife Mary K; sister Betty Faye Anderson; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Serving as pallbearers are his sons Charles McKay, Willis McKay, Lester Butler and Ricky McMillin, and grandsons Lyndal Butler, Lance Butler, Nicolas McMillin, and Kaysen McMillin. Honorary bearers are his grandchildren, neighbors and close friends.
A time for viewing will be held Friday, February 26 from 12 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Love County Military Museum or the Love County Junior Livestock Show.
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