Obituary of McKinley Lavern Underwood

McKinley “Big Mac” Lavern Underwood Sr. was born January 28, 1958 to McKinley Underwood and Felecia Stafford in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Mac passed away October 31, 2016 surrounded by his loving family after a long battle of COPD/Emphysema. Big Mac was processed in death by his son McKinley L. Underwood Jr., father McKinley Underwood, 2 sisters Starla Lovell and Minnie Underwood, nephew/son Duane Underwood Sr., both maternal and paternal grandparents. McKinley is survived by his loving wife of 41 1⁄2 years Robin Underwood, a daughter Melissa (Thomas) Hawkins, a son Matthew(Rasheeda) Underwood Sr., 12 grandchildren Myesha Underwood, Natile Underwood, Mykeia Underwood-Hawkins, McKinley Underwood III, Mariah Underwood, Indya Green-Underwood, Ayvianna Green-Underwood, DeNika Dunning, Matthew Underwood, Chevaye Green-Underwood, Aireonna Underwood and Matthew Underwood Jr., mother Felecia Simpson, 2 sisters Tillana Underwood, Robin Simpson, 2 brothers Robert Simpson Jr., and John Simpson Sr., and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and many other children who he opened his door to. Big Mac was a man of many talents he was a maintenance man, a cable layer, hunter, he also could build anything from his imagination and was a perfectionist at it, to where his wife called him “Bob the Builder”. But most of all the man, husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, coach, role model, nephew, cousin and friend will always be a legend and can never be replaced. McKinley “Big Mac “Underwood has always been a loving, loyal, honest, humble, and family man. Growing up as the oldest of 3 sisters and 2 brothers he made his life about loving, forgiving, helping, looking out for others and always putting himself last. Throughout his childhood he loved to go help his grandmother Ida Stafford with yard work, gardening and what ever else she needed done. Mac taught his brothers how to play football, basketball, baseball and always looked out for his brother and sisters. So in 1975 he kissed the love of his life for the first time and wanted to start his own family with Robin Newkirk later to have 3 beautiful children McKinley Jr., Melissa, and Matthew Sr., by 1980 they were married with 3 children and 12 grandchildren in which he devoted the rest of his life to.