July 18, 2023
I had the joy and privilege of attending a memorial service this last weekend for a dearly loved, and now promoted saint, Mr. Roger McKinley of Prairie City, Oregon. Roger and his bride Melody have been a part of Grace Chapel for about as long as I’ve been alive. They were married in 1960 before I celebrated my first birthday! Roger was an exemplary lay person, and he and Melody are the kind of folks that build strong churches. He enjoyed people, and loved the Word of God. He adored his family, and served the body of Christ and his community with joy and faithfulness.
Here is a just a portion of Roger’s obituary:
“Work was Roger’s enjoyment, especially when he could teach the younger generation about logging, trucking, running equipment and repairing broken down equipment. He was very skilled at operating his self-loader log truck. Roger enjoyed hunting and fishing when he would take the time.
He served his Lord and Savior as Trustee, and on the Board of Finance for the Northwest District of the Evangelical Methodist Church, and later on the General Conference Board of Finance, as well as other boards and committees, and was a long-time Sunday School Teacher at Grace Chapel Evangelical Methodist Church in Prairie City.
He served on the Prairie City Council for 32 years, the Oregon Forest Products Transportation Association, Grant County Home Rule Committee, the Grant County Public Forest Commission, and was a Grant County Republican Party Precinct Committee person. He was a member of the Oregon Transportation Association, the NRA, and the American Stewards of the Range.”
Melody has been called to bid a temporary farewell to her partner of 63 years, but she is certain where he is. Roger is safe in the arms of Jesus. We would do well to follow in his faithful and God-honoring footsteps. Roger will be missed in Prairie City. He will be missed in the EMC. And heaven is a richer place today.
Congratulations are in order for Rev. Vernon and Ruth Perkins! They celebrated 50 years of marriage earlier this year. What amazing servants they have been and continue to be. Ruth and Vernon, you must have married one another as middle-schoolers!! �� You aren’t old enough to have enjoyed 50 years together!!
Best wishes from all of us in the EMC
