Lillian Lineberger "Dee Dee" McKay

1930 - 2025

Peaceful and snug in her childhood bed Dee Dee McKay died at home early Friday morning, October 24, 2025, after a series of strokes which began in October 2023. She was lovingly cared for by her family, friends and a wonderful group of caregivers for two years. Dee Dee was 95 years old.

Remarkably, despite a steady physical deterioration, she was mentally sharp until the end. A resident of Southminster Retirement Community since 2011, she was very active socially, resigning from her bridge group only in mid September. In a final bit of housekeeping, she directed the rearrangement of furniture by her children on October 15th. Dee Dee knew her mind and was unafraid to express it.

Peter McKay was the love of her life, her soul mate and full partner. They met at a party on the Catawba river in 1948. Peter was singing college songs with friends. Dee Dee fell head over heels. She was about to enter Vassar College ('52), Peter was at Princeton ('51). They dated back and forth between Poughkeepsie and New Jersey through college and were married June 27, 1953. Peter and Dee Dee celebrated 65 years of marriage in June 2018 with their entire family.

Apparently deciding to get on with childbearing she had three children, Lili, Wit and Katherine, in Baltimore, Ann Arbor, and Durham respectfully, between October 28, 1954 and November 12, 1957. Dee Dee was quite proud of producing three healthy kids (and moving cross country twice) in three years and two weeks.

Born Lillian Evans Lineberger on June 10, 1930, she grew up in Belmont, N.C., the oldest of five, a depression baby. Two of her siblings survive, Jane Huffard (John) of Atlanta, and Arch Lineberger of Wilmington, N.C. Her father A. C. Lineberger, Gaston County born and bred, was in the family textile business. Lillian Nunn Evans of Shuqulak, Mississippi, her mother, was also a force. She loved the large, tight knit, extended family of 25 first cousins many of whom lived across the street, Lineberger row in Belmont.

Dee Dee graduated from Chatham Hall in 1948. She loved and supported it throughout her life as President of the Alumni association and a member of the Board of Trustees. After serving as the President of the Junior League of Charlotte she served on the Boards of Trustees of the NC School of the Arts, the Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center, Spirit Square and Chairman of the Board of Visitors of the Lineberger Cancer Center at UNC, Chapel Hill.

The Presbyterian Church was a large part of her life. A long time elder at Myers Park Presbyterian Church, she volunteered in many areas. Led by Rev. Jane Summey, Dee Dee and four other women went on the first mission trip to Malawi, Africa. It was a life changing experience.

In 1995 during her third bout with cancer, Dee Dee and Peter built their "Mountain House" for retirement in Linville, N.C. Due to the impossible incline of the lot Peter dubbed it "The Edge." Always looking for a way to serve they, along with friends, saved Wee Kirk Presbyterian Church in Linville from near dissolution turning it into a major source for good in Avery County.

Dee Dee and Peter absolutely loved social events and parties: big, small, formal, intimate. They were always game and entertained enthusiastically. They also loved gardening and flowers, sweaty, hands in the dirt gardening with two large beautiful decorative gardens first on Eastover Road in Charlotte, then in Linville.

Peter died at Thanksgiving 2018. Since then, DeeDee has been buoyed by a large, growing group of dear friends, at Southminster, Linville and beyond. She grew wiser with old friends, and new ones. She found a joyful home at Southminster in her final years. She knew how to love deeply and generously.

Dee Dee is survived by her three children, Dr. Lili Teigland (Dr. Chris Teigland) of Charlotte, Wit McKay (Anne Kennedy), a visual artist in Williamstown, Mass., and Katherine McKay a CPA in Edwards, Colo. Her four grandchildren and four great grandchildren called her "Mema" and brought great joy.

Her family would like to acknowledge and offer deepest thanks to her caregivers, especially Mary Coates, along with the whole team at Eloquent Home Care. Their empathy, professionalism and good humor made her last two years possible. The hospice care of Via Health Partners provided comfort and understanding to her last weeks.

Dee Dee McKay's funeral will be held 2 p.m. on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at Myers Park Presbyterian Church, 2501 Oxford Place, Charlotte, N.C. The family will receive friends following the service in Oxford Hall. The service will be livestreamed through the church website at: https://myersparkpres.org/live/ for those unable to attend in person.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be offered in memory of Dee Dee to Wee Kirk Presbyterian Church, PO Box 702, Linville, N.C. 28646.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral and Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, N.C. 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences may be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.