Pastor McKinley Lee, Sr. of Clinton, Iowa passed away peacefully at Mercy Living Center - South on Monday, September 12, 2016. A Funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 23, at the Church of the Open Door. A visitation will occur one hour prior from 10:00 a.m. until time of service on Friday at the Church. Burial is scheduled to take place at 2:00 p.m. on Friday at the National Cemetery in Rock Island, Illinois. Lemke Funeral Homes is assisting the family with arrangements.
McKinley Lee, Sr. was born April 12, 1933 in Winchester, Kentucky to Promise and Ada Lee. He finished high school early and joined the military at the young age of 16. He often commented on how his fellow soldiers called him "Young Blood".
In 1953 after serving our country in the Korean War, McKinley was given an honorable discharge. He later moved to Chicago, Illinois and got a job as a security guard. While getting on an elevator one day, he bumped into the one who would be become his wife, Esther Hughes. They courted for a while, got married, and had a son, McKinley Malik Lee, Jr, in 1969, which completed their blended family: Ruth, Jerry, Ernestine, Willie, Annette, and McKinley.
In 1979, McKinley packed up his family to leave the rough side of Chicago, and headed across the river to Clinton, Iowa. The Lee family joined Second Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Lionel Davis. In 1982, he became a deacon and after many years serving the Lord, McKinley was given his ministerial license by Bishop Wade of Savannah, Illinois.
God had a special calling for McKinley as he was led to the Victory Center Rescue Mission under the leadership of Pastor Ray Gimenez. For the past 20 years, the now Pastor McKinley Lee, Sr, has blessed us with his laughter, wisdom, and genuine love for people. His work with the homeless men and women are just a part of the body of work he is to be remembered and loved by. Most of all, he is to be remembered as a son of the Most High God, a father, husband, brother, uncle, nephew, and a friend to many.
Pastor Lee loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them. He and his wife even moved to California for a few years to be close to their son, McKinley Jr, daughter in law, Roshelle, and grandkids: Brandon, Yuriah, McKinley,III, Myles, and Major. McKinley also loved watching the Westerns. Gunsmoke was his favorite and he knew all the words. He will be deeply missed.
Pastor McKinley Lee, Sr was preceded in death by his parents, Promise & Ada Lee; his wife - Esther, brothers: Arthur , Promise Jr, Phillip, George, and Richard Lee; sisters: Queentilla Long, Celia Carter, Grace Ballard; Niece: Juanita Warren.
Pastor McKinley Lee, Sr. leaves to cherish his memory, his sons: McKinley Lee, Jr (Roshelle) of Fresno, California, Willie Hughes (Julia) of Clinton, Iowa; Daughters: Ruth Fairchild of Rockford, Il, Annette Hughes of Chicago, Illinois; Brothers: Henderson and Daniel Lee; Sister: Virginia Loundmon, a special niece: Ada Lee, and a host of grandchildren, nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.

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