Edgar McKinnie

Edgar Louis McKinnie, born December 31, 1935, passed away peacefully in Gulfport, Mississippi, on May 3, 2017, after a lengthy and courageous battle with cancer.
A longtime resident of Diamondhead, Mississippi, Ed retired as a United States Marine Corps First Lieutenant after 25 years of distinguished and honorable service as a USMC combat/rescue helicopter Crew Chief that included three tours "in country" during the Vietnam Conflict, having been awarded a Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Commendation Medal, Combat Aircrew Insignia with 3 Stars, Navy Unit Citation with 2 Stars, Navy Air Medal with 4 Stars, Vietnam Campaign Medal and numerous others. Following his distinguished career with the Marine Corps, Ed was employed as an Installation Engineer with The Elliot Company, Turbo Care Corp, and United Technologies Inc. Ed was a member of the USMC Combat Helicopter Association (Pop A Smoke), the USMC League, the Diamondhead Miss. VFW and the Diamondhead Country Club. When not playing Golf, Ed enjoyed RV traveling with his wife Ann across our great country that he loved so dearly. Special thanks to his team of Doctors and their staffs at both MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and Memorial Hospital at Gulfport, MS.
Ed was preceded in death by his first wife, Shirley Pearce McKinnie; and his parents, Louis McKinnie and Jewel McKinnie.
Ed is survived by his loving wife, Ann Mckinnie; and his five daughters, Debbie Searcy (Roger), Karen Simcox (Mike), Diane Allen, Kathy Kapoulas (Mitchell) and Kimberly Sorgenfrei (Steve). Ed, also known affectionately as "Grand Dad," is also survived by eight grandchildren, Patrick McKinnie, Brett Searcy, Brooke Pierron, Brandy Carroll, Brittney Carroll, Mathew Kapoulas, Samantha Kapoulas and Alex Kapoulas; and six great grandchildren, Madeline Pierron, Molly Pierron, Luke Pierron, Mason Searcy, Ellie Grace Searcy and Evelyn Claire Mckinnie.
A visitation will be held from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM on Wednesday, May 10, 2017, at RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 9113 Kiln DeLisle Rd., Pass Christian, MS. The funeral service will begin at 12:30 PM in the funeral home chapel with burial to follow at 2:30 PM at Biloxi National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations in Ed's name to MD Anderson Cancer Research.
An online guestbook may be signed and memories shared at www.riemannfamily.com