James L. McKale
December 10, 1942 ~ June 30, 2024
James Lee “Jim” McKale, age 81 of Abilene, Kansas, died Sunday, June 30, 2024 at Memorial Hospital- Abilene, Kansas.He was born on December 10, 1942 in Clay Center, Kansas, the son of Dale and Nadine (Faulkner) McKale. Jim was raised in the Longford, Kansas community where he graduated from Longford High School in 1960. He continued his education at Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas, followed by barber school in Wichita, Kansas.
On June 3, 1969, Jim’s life changed forever when he married Iris (Teasley) McKale and her four children in Abilene, Kansas. On January 22, 1970, Jim and Iris welcomed a daughter, Terry Lynn. Jim was a foreman at KPL (Riverside) in Abilene, Kansas and later an electrical supervisor at Jeffery Energy Center, St. Marys, Kansas before retiring in 2002 at the age of 59. During Jim’s time of working, he also continued his passion of barbering in the evenings in Longford, Kansas.
Jim had a variety of facets to his life. Jim was a high school “stud” participating in all of the sports, and him, along with his brother’s, built a reputation that followed him into adulthood. Jim continued with sports playing softball, refereeing football, and was known to be an avid golfer. Jim enjoyed being outdoors hunting deer, coyotes, and pheasants and helped in the summertime on the family farm. Family time was something Jim treasured and he was able to make lifelong memories with his grandsons by spending time with them barbering their hair.
Jim was a member of The Elk’s Club of Abilene, Kansas, Pheasant’s Forever, Bethel Methodist Church, Longford, Kansas, and a member of the Country Club both of Wamego, Kansas and Abilene, Kansas.
He is survived by his wife, Iris McKale, of their home in Abilene, Kansas. Also surviving are his children: Randy Hern (Leah), Abilene, Kansas; Danny Hern (Theresa), Abilene, Kansas; Kimberly Manwaring, Burlington, Kansas; and Timberly Bowers (Greg Huston), Abilene, Kansas, 8 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. Numerous nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews also survive.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents: Dale and Nadine McKale; brothers, Bill McKale and Denny McKale; daughter, Terry Lynn McKale-Kolde; grandson, Kirk Manwaring; and infant great-great grandaughter Vera.
A memorial service will be held at 11:30am on Monday, July 8, 2024 at Bethel Methodist Church, Longford, Kansas with Charles Nynakope officiating. The family has chosen cremation but will meet with guests at the luncheon immediately following the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to Bethel Methodist Church, Longford, Kansas. Memorials may be dropped off or mailed to Martin-Becker-Carlson Funeral Home, 414 NW Third St., Abilene, Kansas 67410. Online condolences may be sent to www.martinbeckercarlson.com