1928 – 2014

FARMINGTON — William James McKinley, “Bill,” 85, of Farmington, died shortly upon arrival at the emergency room at Franklin Memorial Hospital on Tuesday morning, March 11.

He was born on Aug. 16, 1928, in Niagara Falls, N.Y., the only child of William and Marie (Sessler) McKinley. He was a graduate of Niagara Falls High School and Niagara University. On Nov. 7, 1961, he married Sally Pickerill in Maryland.

At the age of 17, he began working in the lab at International Paper Co. in New York, a job that helped him earn his own way through college. Following graduation, he continued to work at IP and eventually worked in the personnel department. In 1965, he was transferred to the mill in Jay, where he was manager of human resources. He opted for early retirement from the mill and re-entered the workforce at Saunders Manufacturing in Readfield, where he was employed in personnel and safety.

He was a member of the International Paper Quarter Century Club and was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church in Farmington for many years, and served on a variety of church committees.

Bill was an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing, and he also had a passion for collecting antiques. He will be remembered as a man of integrity. He was devoted to the care and well-being of his family, and took great joy in helping and encouraging each of them in their own life journey.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Sally, of Farmington; their daughter, Debra Burchfield, of Farmington; two sons, William P. McKinley “Bill” of Farmington and Robert McKinley “Bob” and his wife, Rebecca, of Waterville; four grandchildren, Lindsay Strout and her husband, Ira, Heather McKinley Stewart, Ashley Webber and Colby Brusoe; and a great-granddaughter, Kendra Skyy Strout.

He was predeceased by his folks and a son-in-law, Ricky Burchfield.

Tributes and condolences may be shared on his memorial wall at www.wilesrc.com.

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