Eldon Mackey

Eldon Hugh Mackey was born on November 14, 1938, at Rockbridge, Missouri, in Ozark County, to Ralph and Geneva (Edwards) Mackey. He passed away at Ozarks Medical Center in West Plains, Missouri, on October 5, 2017, at 78 years, 10 months, and 21 days of age.

Eldon grew up on the family farm at Rockbridge and engaged in all the farming activities to help support the family. He also got in some fishing and cave exploring. He attended Lower Brixey School for grade school and graduated from Gainesville High School in 1957. After graduation, he enlisted in the US Navy and made a career of it. He was stationed in various places throughout the United States. Eldon met Tinzie Mims while he was stationed in San Diego, Californa. They were married and reared their family while in the service. He retired from the Navy after 23 years as a Master Chief. He never lost his patriotism for America. He made flag boxes for families who lost a veteran. Eldon was active with the American Legion and always took flags to be put on the graves of veterans in the Souder Cemetery, as well as others. In later years, his grandson, Scott, helped him with this. He repaired many broken headstones in the cemeteries. Eldon was still praying for the country in his last hours.

Eldon was so talented in many things. He was mechanically minded and could fix just about anything, from radios to cars. He was a talented artist when he was very young. He could design and make clothes. He was excellent with woodworking and made many beautiful pieces of furniture, which he so lovingly shared with us all. Eldon loved to work with his grandson, Scott, and taught him and his son, Bryan, about woodworking. He was also very involved with raising Red Poll cattle, which he did for many years. He showed in fairs and got top prices for the cattle he sold. He was also talented musically. He could play some on any instrument and had a wonderful deep singing voice.

Above all, Eldon was a devoted Christian and attended the Church of Christ in Mountain Grove. He spent a lot of time studying the Bible and answering questions asked of him by people. He spent much time in study and rightly dividing the word of truth. Eldon was devoted to his family. He and Tinzie would have family members from all over come to their house at family reunion time or on the fourth of July. They would treat everyone to food and fireworks.

Eldon was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend to so many. He will be missed by all.

He was preceded in death by two daughters, infant, Rubye Mackey and Anna Mackey, one granddaughter, Amanda Lea Edwards, one sister and brother-in-law, Linda (Mackey) and Pat McGowan, one nephew, Brad McGowan, one niece, Micki (Johnson) Kline, his grandparents, Hugh and Linna (Haynes) Edwards and Arch & Minnie (Parker) Mackey, and many aunts, uncles and cousins that were loved.

Eldon is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Tinzie (Mims) Mackey, two sons, Bryan Mackey and wife, Peggy, of West Plains, and David Mackey and companion, Jan, of Mountain Grove, one daughter, Susan Taylor and husband, Dan, of Tecumseh, Missouri, nine grandchildren, Russell Schilling, Austyn (Schilling) Ellison, Travis Mackey, Scott Mackey, Joseph Edwards, Rebekah (Edwards) Frazier, Nicki (Taylor) Valbracht, Chris Taylor, and Lauren (Mackey) Mahin, eighteen great grandchildren, three sisters, Judy Williams and husband, Harold, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Nancy Turner and husband, Charles, of Mountain Grove, and Mary Knox of Mountain Grove, one brother, Billy Mackey and wife, Tugta, of San Antonio, Texas, one uncle, Doin Mackey of Prairie Village, Kansas, one aunt, Anne Mackey of Kansas City, Missouri, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins whom he loved dearly.