JOHN MCKINLEY

JOHN MCGEEHAN MCKINLEY 1925 - 2009 John was a native of Ashland, Wisconsin and the only son of Eleanore K. McGeehan and Maytor H. McKinley. John married Sylvia C. Meyer on September 9, 1949. They were happily married for 53 years and John was often heard to say: "It was the smartest thing I ever did." John is survived by his three daughters, Molly Sequeira, Megan McKinley and Maureen McKinley; his son, Matthew McKinley; two sons-in-law, John Sequeira and Michael Conlee; a daughter-in-law, Teresa McKinley; and his seven grandchildren, Christopher, Kathleen, Eleanor, Kyle, Kelly, Rachel and Sylvia. He is also survived by his half-brother, William McKinley; and half-sister, Mary Beth Thomas; and over 50 nieces and nephews. John served his country in WWII and achieved the rank of Master Sergeant. Upon being honorably discharged he attended the University Of Wisconsin at Madison where he received a Ph.B in English and Drama/ Theatre. He was a member of the university's drama troupe, the Wisconsin Players, and had starring roles in several productions. He worked at U of W and ABC affiliate radio stations. At the U of W, he was the voice of the Badgers and did play-by-play for football, basketball, wrestling, boxing and crew. At the ABC affiliate he was the host of the "Talk of the Morning Show" and received a PBS award in broadcasting for his rendition of the "Ugly Duckling." John an d Sylvia moved to California in 1953 and settled in Glendale, California in 1954. John joined his father in the funeral business and became a manager and part-owner of the Utter McKinley Mortuaries which had funeral homes in Los Angeles, the William Cook Funeral Homes in Baltimore, Oliver H. Blair funeral homes in Philadelphia, Inglewood Cemetery Mortuary and interests in Hawaiian Memorial Park in Honolulu. He retired in 1986. John joined Rotary International in 1954, was a member with perfect attendance f or 55 years, and served as President of the La Canada Flintridge Rotary Club, Governor of Rotary District 5260, Zone 23 and 24 Polio Plus Coordinator, and Chair of the Rotary Rose Float Committee for the 1997 Tournament of Roses Parade. He was also active in the National Football Foundation and was President of the San Fernando Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. John was a proud member of the Southern California Big Ten Club from 1954, served as President and was na med its "Man of the Year" in 2002. Other than Rotary and Big 10 Football, his interests included theatre, being a sustaining patron and Founder of the Los Angeles Music Center, professional football, being an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers, and telling stories about himself, his family and all of his friends. A devout Catholic, he was a member of the Knights of Columbus and a life member of the City of Hope. The Mass of Christian Burial will be recited at 10:00 a.m., on Monday, November 23, 200 9, at Incarnation Church located at the corner of Glen Oaks and Brand Blvd. in Glendale, California. Viewing hours will be from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., at Utter McKinley San Fernando Mission Mortuary. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made either to the American Cancer Society, The American Heart Association or the Alzheimer's Association. A second memorial service will be held at the Las Vegas Country Club in Las Vegas Nevada at a date yet to be announced. UTTER McKINLEY SAN FERNAN DO MISSION MORTUARY Mission Hills (818) 361-4751