Linda (Connett) McKay

Linda Connett McKay, 68, of Champaign passed away surrounded by her family at home on Sunday (Aug. 13, 2017).

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 18, at First Presbyterian Church, 302 W. Church St., Champaign, with the Rev. Eric Corbin officiating. A reception will follow in Westminster Hall at the church. Interment will be in a private ceremony at Mount Hope Cemetery, Champaign.

Linda was born on Feb. 17, 1949, in Robinson, Ill., to Bernal M. and Corda (Woods) Connett. Linda was one of three siblings.

She graduated from Robinson High School in 1967 where she began dating her future husband, Edward Donald (Don) McKay III. They were married on Feb. 8, 1969, in Robinson and lived in Hanover, Ind., where Don attended Hanover College, and moved to Champaign in 1971 where she attended the University of Illinois, graduating in 1975 with a degree in education. She and Don made their home in Champaign.

She is survived by her husband; daughter, Catherine McKay Stickels (Eric) of Champaign; son, Brian McKay (Courtney Ballard) of Champaign; daughter, Allison McKay Poindexter (Blake) of Dallas, Ga.; seven grandchildren, Rachel Stickels, Jack Stickels and Hannah Stickels of Champaign, Claire Poindexter and Kyle Poindexter of Dallas, Ga., and Davis McKay and Grant McKay of Champaign; and a niece, Natalie Connett Lee (Barry) of Indianapolis.

Other survivors include her brothers, Gary Connett and Duane Connett of Indianapolis.

Her parents preceded her in death.

She taught language arts and reading for 20 years in Champaign Unit 4 schools, principally at Jefferson Middle School where she and her two daughters taught briefly at the same time. She enjoyed being greeted by former students when out and about in the twin cities.

She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Champaign, a lifelong choir member, Sunday school teacher and deacon, a member of the American Association of University Women and PEO.

She and Don traveled with church youth groups on mission trips to Albuquerque, N.M., and Clemson, S.C.

Linda enjoyed mountains, ocean shores, music, traveling, walking, reading, dogs, a full moon, Words with Friends, cooking, baking with grandchildren, her home and drinking tea on her back porch.

Memorial contributions may be made payable to the Linda McKay Fund for Metastatic Breast Cancer Research, care of Bank Champaign, 2101 S. Neil St., Champaign, IL 61822.