Burl Walter McGahey

MCGAHEY, Burl Walter of Dallas, TX, born July 3, 1935, went to be with the Lord March 3, 2007. Burl is survived by his wife of 53 years, Patricia McGahey.Burl and Pat met when they were 12 years old at church in Ivanhoe, CA.They were married in 1954 in Ivanhoe.Burl joined the Navy in September 1952 and served for 20 years.After retiring from the Navy in 1972 in Vallejo, CA, he went to work for Shell Oil Company and worked there as a foreman for 21 years.After his retirement from Shell oil,Burl and Pat traveled in their RV around the United States for 3 years before joining the MAPS program where they traveled for 2 more years working at Children's Homes and Bible Colleges in Hot Springs, AK, Fairfield, TX, and San Antonio, TX.During the summers, they traveled to Burlison, TN to work at the youth camp.They moved to Mesquite, TX in February 1998 before settling at Buckner Retirement Village in Dallas, TX, July 2006. Burl loved children and the children loved him.He was famously known as the "Candy Man" to all the children as he always carried candy in his pocket to give them.Burl always had a smile on his face and was ready to help wherever needed and to share the Lord with anyone who would listen. Burl was a Choctaw descendent and was very proud of his Choctaw heritage.He spoke about it often to his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren or anyone that would listen.He loved going to the POW WOW each year over Labor Day weekend. Burl is preceded in death by parents Burl M. and Dorlene McGahey, brothers, Richard and Larry McGahey. He is also survived by his daughters, Erin Lesko & husband John of Clearlake, CA, Denise Baer & husband Rick of Thornton, CO, Janet Hogue & husband Denny of Exeter, CA, grandchildren, Jeremy, Walter, Jeff, Joshua, Matthew and Jerrod; seven great grandchildren, step-mother Fern McGahey of Mansfield, OK, brother Emmitte McGahey of Ardmore, OK, sister, Leatrice Perry & husband Glen of Mannsville, OK, numerous cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Service and burial information for Burl Walter McGahey can be viewed online at www.newhopefh.com and condolences may also be made online. Service will be 10:00AM Friday March 9, 2007 at the New Hope Funeral Home Chapel.Family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday evening from 6:00PM - 8:00PM. Internment will be in the DFW National Cemetery in Dallas, TX. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the youth group of Creek Crossing Harvest Church, 124 W. Davis, Mesquite, TX. 75149. (972-216-7728)