Lyle 'Jim' J. McKay

April 2, 1930 - June 9, 2012

KEARNEY, Nebraska -- Lyle "Jim" J. McKay, 82, of Kearney, died Saturday, June 9, 2012, at the Nebraska Veterans Home in Grand Island.

Memorial services will be Wednesday, June 13, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. at the Grace Fellowship Church with Jim Wilson officiating. Military Rites will be provided at the Church by the Kearney American Legion Post No. 52, Kearney V.F.W. Post No. 759, and United Sates Navy Funeral Honors Team. Memorials are suggested to the UNK Athletic Foundation. A message of condolence, tribute or memory can be left at www.hlmkfuneral.com . Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services of Kearney are in charge of arrangements.

Jim was born April 2, 1930, in Fairbury, Nebraska to Lyle and Clara (Zimmerman) McKay. He graduated in 1949 from Teachers College High School in Lincoln. He joined the Navy in October of 1950 and served during the Korean Conflict until 1954.

Jim married Betty Love in Lincoln on Feb. 10, 1952. They moved to Kearney in 1962. He owned and operated Ray's Pizza from 1962 until 1972. He also became involved with the Kearney State College Athletic Department, helping with the football team, eventually serving as the equipment manager. He retired in 1995. He enjoyed over 50 years of service to the Athletes of UNK.

Jim was a big fan and supporter of UNK Athletics. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and enjoyed tying jigs and flies for fishing.

Surviving relatives include his wife, Betty McKay of Kearney, Nebraska; sons, Dennis and Brenda McKay of Avondale, Arizona, Barry McKay of Kearney; daughters, Pam and Ray Dorothy of McCook, Nebraska, Nancy and Tom Davidson of Kearney, Patti and Randy Busch of Kearney; brothers, Jerry and Mary McKay of Omaha, Nebraska, Robert "Bob" and Kim McKay of Lincoln; sisters, Jo Ann and Keith Brown of Lincoln, Judy and Dick Chloupek of Lincoln; brother-in-law,Ray Brown of Hastings, Nebraska; special friend, Debbie Welty-Tucker of Thornton, Colorado; 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Jim was preceded in death by one brother, Dennis McKay, and one sister, Doris Brown.