Billie I. McKie, 91, of Lincoln Twp. died Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022, at Spectrum Health Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph.
Services celebrating his life were held on Wednesday, Jan. 26, at the Fairplain Chapel of Florin Funeral Service in Benton Twp. with military honors. Cremation has taken place. Please share messages or memories at www.florin.net.
Billie was born on April 13, 1930 in Hastings, MI to Edward and Marian McKie. He was a graduate of Benton Harbor High School. Billie served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and was a former member of the Stevensville American Legion Post.
For over 30 years he was a machinist at Clark Equipment Company and Volvo which purchased Clark. Billie retired in 1985 and for the next 10 years he was the maintenance man at the Benton Harbor Library where his wife was a Librarian. His wife, Barbara, preceded him in death in 2006.
He enjoyed hunting, golfing, playing horseshoes, and bowling. He loved puzzles and playing on his computer. Billie also enjoyed walking around the mobile home park where he lived. He was always helping other people and he would give you the shirt off his back.
His family includes his children, Tamara (Jimmy Wheton) Smith and Todd McKie, both of Lincoln Twp.; his brother, Buck McKie, of Coloma; eight grandchildren, Jessica V., Adam A., Aaron A., Chase S., Corey S., Andrew S., Marjorie M., Cynthia K.; 14 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by his parents, daughter Robin Flynn, one great-grandchild, three brothers, and one sister.