Earl McKinley

Earl “Duke” McKinley

1955~2014

Earl McKinley passed away on December 1, 2014 at his home in Ogden, Utah, due to complications of ALS. He is survived by his brothers Chuck and Rob, sisters Shelley, Karen, and Tracy, father Earl, stepmother Lynda, son Kevin, daughter-in-law Crystal, granddaughter Alora, and grandson Alexander.

Earl was born on May 26, 1955, in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he acquired the nickname Duke as a young child. His family lived in several states while he was growing up, including Hawaii, Idaho, California, Nevada, and Utah. Duke loved motorcycles, drag racing, and seeing the country. As an adult, he drove semi-truck for about eight years and worked as a mechanic for A B Hadley and on a drill crew in the oil fields. He loved technology and joined the Iomega customer service department in 2000, where he often went above and beyond job requirements to help resolve customers’ issues, later becoming part of the Advanced Support Group. He worked at Iomega, which was later acquired by EMC, until ALS confined him to bed.

Duke had a unique and special relationship with his brother Chuck, who gave Duke devoted care day-to-day throughout the final years of his life. Chuck loved his brother dearly and will miss him terribly.

During the course of his struggle with ALS, Duke also received great care from Hearts for Hospice and Home Health and Intermountain Home Health and Hospice.

Those who knew Duke will always remember him as amazingly positive. Every day was a good day for Duke. He never complained and stayed positive to the end. In spite of the increasing limitations he experienced as ALS progressed, he always focused on what he could still do, experience, and learn. Chuck’s kids and grandkids think Duke was the best uncle ever. He will be greatly missed.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, December 8, 2014 at 2 p.m. at Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd.  Friends may visit family on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. and Monday from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m. at the mortuary. Interment, Lindquist’s Washington Heights Memorial Park, 4500 Washington Blvd.