James Alex McKay II

James Alex McKay II ("Alex"), of Bryan, Texas, age 83, entered Heaven on October 18, 2025. He was a beloved son, cousin, friend to many, and an adopted Grandfather and Great-Grandfather. Alex was born in Navasota, Texas on April 18, 1942, to James Alex and Thetis Thornhill McKay.

Alex graduated from Bryan High School in 1960. He entered the United States Navy in September of 1961 and served as an Airman (E-3) Aircraft Handler in Heavy Attack Squadron Four. He was honorably discharged on September 13, 1965, and then served in the Naval Reserve. He began his civilian career as an exploratory diver in various locations off the southern coast of Florida and in the Caribbean Sea. Alex retired from Blinn College in 2010 after 15 years of service.

In 1982, he met the love of his life, Exxie Camelia Bass. They were companions until her death on November 9, 2000. The deep family bond that Alex formed with Exxie's children continued with their children, and grandchildren who adoredly adopted him as their "Pop-O."

Alex was a self-taught cartoonist and drew cartoons for a newspaper in San Diego, California while serving in the navy. He also loved photography and enthusiastically chronicled the lives of all his loved ones in pictures.

Alex was predeceased by his parents; cousin Deborah Kay Cook and her husband Tommy Cook. He is survived by cousin Jimmy Joe Pletzer, and Debbie and Tommy's children Dawn Cook Hendrick and Doug Cook. Alex is also survived by his adopted families of Richard Bass and Regina Putney Bass, including Richard's wife Melanie , their children, Madelyn Bass Gaddis, Alyssa Bass Folkerts, and Dylan Bass; sons-in-law, Justin Gaddis and Landon Folkerts, and daughter-in-law Julia Bass; and six grandchildren Cooper and Presley Gaddis, Reid, Callen, and Emory Folkerts, and Kennedy Bass; Regina's husband Charles Putney, and their children Exxie and Lela Putney.

A visitation will begin at 9:30am at Hillier Funeral Home in College Station on Thursday, October 23, 2025. Following this, a graveside service will take place at 11:00 AM at the Bryan City Cemetery, 1111 S. Texas Avenue, Bryan, Texas 77803.