Memorial service for MAJ (Retired) George Edward McKay will be 12:30 p.m. Friday, April 10, 2026 in Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Chapel with Curtis Erwin officiating.

Burial with full military honors will follow in Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, Oklahoma.

George Edward McKay died Tuesday, February 10, 2026, in Lawton, Oklahoma, at the age of 86. He was born August 16, 1939, in Reno, Nevada, and was raised by his mother and stepfather, Juanita (Powell) and Byron O'Neill.

George lived in several places during his youth before enlisting in the United States Army at an early age. He later attended Officer Candidate School, where he was, at that time, among the oldest candidates to attend OCS. He went on to have a long and distinguished military career, earning numerous awards and decorations, including the Bronze Star Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm.

Following his retirement from the military, George pursued higher education and earned a bachelor's degree in computer science, specializing in computer forensics, from Cameron University. He later worked in Civil Service working with NATO on the "Friend or Foe" project, which afforded him the opportunity to travel extensively.

He married Helen June Barber on May 8, 1991, in Lawton, Oklahoma. Helen died the same day as George, passing only a brief time after his death.

George was a member of the American Legion. He held a pilot's license and enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting, fishing, and boating. He was also an avid collector of coins and jewelry.

He is survived by his children and their spouses, John and Belinda McKay, Mark and Sherry McKay, Cari and Rick Palesano, and Heather and John McMahan; grandchildren and their spouses, Dustin and Maria Tahmahkera, Kyla and Logan Phillips, Macy McKay, Dyllan and Kaitlin McKay, Ross and Maggie Palesano, Garrett Palesano, Bryce and Brianna Bolin, ,and Sydney and Chad Robinson; great grandchildren, Madelyn, Ella, John Daniel, Weston, Virginia, and Luke Avery; as well as several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Byron "Butch" O'Neill, a sister, Dorothy "Dotti" Baril, his mother and stepfather, Juanita and Byron O'Neill, and his former spouse and the mother of his children, Patricia A. McKay.

An online guest book and sympathy cards are available at www.beckerfuneral.com