Gerald “Jerry” McKay, 85, of Kaplan, La., formerly of Festus, died Jan. 24, 2017, at Abbeyville (La.) General Hospital. Mr. McKay retired after 30 years from the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union in St. Louis. He served in the Army National Guard. Born Jan. 31, 1931, in De Soto, he was the son of the late Mattie (Maupin) and Hal Thomas McKay.
He is survived by his wife of 12 years: Elsie B. (Bumbass) McKay; two daughters: Marilyn (Bill) Smith of Crystal City and Barbara (Rick) Hedge of Festus; two stepdaughters: Linda (Charles) Vincent of Kaplan and Debra (Mark) Guidry of Sulphur, La.; a stepson: Bobby (Gloria) Easley of Kaplan; a brother: Norman (Herb) McKay of St. Louis; seven grandchildren: Michelle (Brad) Cunningham, Tara (Bryant) James, Stephanie (Todd) Leahey, Krista (Gary) Davis and Zackery, Jorden and Matthew Hedge; 10 great-grandchildren: Elizabeth, Aubrey, Brenden, Keely, Bella, Trinity, Charlie, Lila, Levi and Claire.
He was preceded in death by two wives: Donna (Goodwin) McKay and Vietta (Gibson) McKay; two sisters: Maybelle Villmere and Martha Lalumandier; and four brothers: Henry, Robert, Hal and John McKay.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Feb. 4, at Faith Baptist Church, 11835 County Road CC, in Festus, followed immediately by funeral services officiated by Pastor Matthew Culbertson. Burial will be in Rose Lawn Memorial Gardens in Crystal City. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association or Faith Baptist Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Vinyard Funeral Home, Festus.