Obituary of Burton James McKinley

McKinley, Burton James Teacher, OBE, OCDSB December 16, 1940 – July 11, 2016 Peacefully at the Peter D. Clark Long-Term Care Home in Ottawa on July 11, 2016. Burt is survived by his loving wife Maggie Joan, stepson Steven (Renée Belanger), brother Michael and sister Joan and was fun-loving “Grandpa Burt” to Kieranne, Devin and Zachary and Joshua. Burt will be missed by brother-in-law James Cunning (Joan Pearson) of Vankleek Hill. Burt leaves many cousins and family in the London, Ont. area, Wales and Ireland. Predeceased by his parents James and Olive McKinley of London, Ont. and sister Mary-Margaret. Burt was a dedicated elementary school teacher for 35 years, first with the Ottawa Board of Education, then in Sudbury and subsequently with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. He spent countless happy hours over the years in gyms and on sports fields across the Ottawa region coaching many school teams and athletes. An avid skier, Burt passed on his love of the slopes to students and teachers alike by running school ski programs to Vorlage and other ski hills in the Gatineau Hills. In his retirement, he became very involved in the Ontario Senior Games, enjoying not only competing in skiing and golf, but also helping to organize. He also made many good friends as a staunch member of the Glengarry Golf and Country Club in Alexandria. Burt and Maggie spent many happy hours dancing to country and western, blues and Celtic music. Burt was especially proud of his MacPherson tartan kilt and loved to tease his mother-in-law Katherine over the benefits of Irish versus Scottish music. Burt loved his friends and neighbours and enjoyed nothing more than to be part of a backyard barbecue, whether it was at the house on Morrison Drive, or in Kars, Mississippi Lake or on the Third Concession, St. Eugene. A very special thank you to the staff of Peter D. Clark for their outstanding care and compassion. Visitation will take place on Friday, July 15, 2016 7:00-9:00 pm with a tribute to Burt at 8:00 pm at Tubman Funeral Home 3440 Richmond Rd., Nepean. A visitation will also be held on Saturday, July 16 from 11:00-1:00 at Hillcrest Funeral Home, 151 Bond St. Vankleek Hill, Ont., followed by a celebration of Burt’s life from 2:00-4:00 at St. John's Anglican Church Hall, Vankleek Hill. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Barb Cemetery Fund, 2445 County Rd. 10, St. Eugene, Ont. K0B 1P0 and the Family and Friends Council of the Peter D. Clark Long-Term Care Centre, 9 Meridian Place, Ottawa, ON, K2G 6P8 (sorry, no receipts provided). To express your condolences, make a donation or light a candle in memory please visit www.hillcrestfuneralhome.ca Funeral arrangements entrusted to Hillcrest Funeral Home 151 Bond Street, Vankleek Hill, Ontario K0B 1R0 (613) 678-2002.