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photo by Marcus Frazier
Susan McKinley holds a portrait of her husband Michael as she is flanked by her youngest son Steven and his older brother James. A member of the U.S. Coast Guard, Michael’s occupation has caused his family to move eight times in the past 15 years.
McKinley family chose not make their final move
Published Monday, July 28, 2008
NATCHEZ — The McKinley family used to be a family on the move.
But when The Dart landed on their Pecanwood Drive home they were determined to stay put.
Susan McKinley and her husband Michael have spent much of their married life together moving back and forth across the country.
“It’s not always easy,” Susan McKinley said while she stood on the front porch of her house.
McKinley’s husband is in the U.S. Coast Guard and his job regularly required them to move.
In 20 years of marriage the couple, and their three children, have moved eight times in 15 years.
The McKinleys have moved from Texas to Washington, then to Pennsylvania, then to Alaska and on and on in massive cross-country crisscross.
For the past five years the family has lived in Natchez.
Well, most of the family.
While the McKinleys were living in Natchez, Michael was transferred again.
McKinley said she just could not stand to move one more time, nor did she want to uproot her children again.
“I started thinking about moving, and I started crying,” she said.
So what was supposed to be the family’s last move, turned into one more trip — but only for Michael.
About four years ago Michael moved out to California alone.
McKinley said while the decision was not one that came easily it was the right choice.
“Why live somewhere if you’re going to leave,” she said throwing her hands in the air. “We like it here and we wanted to stay.”
McKinley said allowing her three children the opportunity to establish themselves in a community was not something she had been able to do with all the moving around. And now that her children are older it’s even more important, she said.
The McKinleys have three children that are 18, 17 and 15 years old.
Across the country in Petaluma, Calif., Mike McKinley gives the decision to move alone mixed reviews.
“It’s got its good side and its bad side,” he said.
Mike said that while he misses his family he actually talks to them more now than he did when they all lived at home together.
“We talk all the time now,” he said. “Thank goodness for cell phones.”
While the family has been separate for nearly four years Susan said that time is hopefully coming to an end.
Mike is eligible to retire soon, he could be home in less than one year.
“We’re looking forward to that day,” Susan said.
Comments
Posted by saywhat (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 4:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We look forward to seeing you every time we come back home to Natchez.
Posted by Mucasplug (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 6:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great looking boys! They have a wonderful mom and a father that is a Great American!
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 7:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You are a great family and a real asset to Natchez! I'm glad I know you.
Posted by sayitloud (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 8:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WOW! What a great All-American family!
Posted by Hardcorps (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Applause for a great family from an old Gyrene.
Posted by concernedNTZcitizen (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 10:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hmmm... wonder if Bev was camera shy?
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 10:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bev, is probably getting ready to attend MSU
I love this family,all the kids are in my martial arts school, really great kids. They have enriched the martial arts program with their participation. I'm proud of their achievements, but we haven't reached the pinnacle of their potential yet. We have great hopes for the future.
Susan is a wonderful mother and this family has been great to work with. Mike's a great guy, what a role model his dedication to country must be for the children, as well as Susan's ongoing demonstration of commitment.
My heart goes out to them for their service to our country, for their sacrifice, and for their faith. I appreciate their attachment to Natchez and wanting this to be their home.
God Bless the McKinley's.
Posted by Kaintuck (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 10:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Kudos to the McKinleys; that is wonderful that they chose to stay! Natchez has more to offer than most Natchezians realize. It has a good climate, plenty of water, and the elevation is such, that the serious flooding often seen in other towns along the "Big Muddy" is non-existent. The scenery is beautiful. Now add friendly neighbors, world renowned history, and great cuisine, and you have an epic slice of Americana.
Posted by beammeupscotty (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think she should have moved with her service member husband. That is what being a military family is all about.
Posted by Krogers (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
well beammeup, she wanted her kids to have some semblance of a home
real estate values in California are ridiculous
just a one bedroom tiny apartment is $1500/mo
Here in Natchez you can buy a 3,000 sq ft home for in about $200,000; give or take depending on this or that, but in CA it would cost you close to $1,000,000. And you know we don't have the mortgage problem most areas have, due largely to absurdly inflated real estate values and people trying to live bigger than their income, along with unethical lenders being greedy.
So it made sense for them to buy a nice home here, get it fixed up and continue the kids education (Susan home schooled her kids, its a shame our public school are so pathetic, of course coast guard income couldn't afford private schools)
and if you had read the article beammeup, MIke will retire in a year or so and then he can come home to a nice home that the family has been working on and improving allthewhile. Mike comes home at every opportunity and Susan works him hard catching up on his honeydues around the house.
Posted by notfromnatchez (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with Beammeup. She's been married to him for a long time. She knew the deal getting married to a military man. Moves are inevitable. She shouldn't have split up the family. That's just wrong.
Posted by meluvcookies (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with Krogers. They are doing what THEY feel is right for THEIR family. Having been gone already for four years, this next year should go relatively fast since time does seem to fly. Besides, absence makes the heart grow fonder!
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Susan didn't make that decision all alone. It was a joint decison between her and Mike, and it has worked well. Many military families, and civilian families, have separation periods due to jobs. I don't see this as any different. I would rather stay in Natchez than move to California if I had to make that choice too.
Notfromnatchez, you just like to make waves anyway, so you are going to disagree just to disagree, aren't you?
Posted by notfromnatchez (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Nope. I have been to 6 bases in 13 years and looking to make another move. My wife would NEVER think about breaking up the family. Military families have enough difficulties. I have missed anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, etc...all not by choice. There are enough things missed because of duty, but to separate for 4 years, just doesn't make sense.
Posted by Morticia (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 2:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with notfromnatchez, there is enough separation without adding to it. That's just part of the military life. Granted its hard. I was once part of that and it isn't easy moving but the schools are great and if she home schooled her kids there was no problem with that anyway. Military families either have base housing or are subsidized. Most of my family has gone through this and I even lived in California.
Posted by saywhat (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 2:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe they just had a wonderful church and good friends and this is where they wanted to raise their family.
I know for a fact that Mike comes home and Susan and the kids go see him. This was not a decision that was made overnight.
Posted by drawpaintsing (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 3:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
She has some handsome sons.
Posted by pbnj (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 4:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
After some of the things you have said it is a wonder people even allow the ND to interview them. Anyways, And yes when she married him that is what she wanted but I am sure at some point there had to be a stopping point to establish stability for the boys. And this is just a shot, but maybe we could save our critical comments for government and politics and not in a way that could effect a child that possibly reads this.
Posted by Riffian1964 (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 4:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
As a military wife (retired now) who has a daughter in Alaska with her military husband, I think it is fair to ask you who are jumping on this lady to leave her alone! It is darn hard to make all those moves and live with an absent husband (TDY or in our daughter's case a deployment to Iraq) without people second guessing your motives. If the family chose to stay here - God Bless them and I hope everything goes smoothly for them. Military families give up a lot - they should not be expected to give up freedom of choice.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on July 28, 2008 at 10:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why was this even in the paper? Is it because they wanted to stay in natchez?
Posted by saywhat (anonymous) on July 29, 2008 at 6:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No, it's where the dart hit.
Posted by susanmckin (anonymous) on July 29, 2008 at 11:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks for all the kind words. And for those of you that think I should have known what it would be like, I did. WE decided that owning our own home, being close to relatives, continuity for the kids, and an amazing Church family (FBC!), not to mention the cost of living in California, was worth the risk. WE were prepared to join Mike any time WE determined it was what was best. But God has blessed us immeasurably. Mike is flourishing, Susan is thriving, and the kids just keep growing. And all of us look forward to the day he comes home to stay.
Posted by skysetter (anonymous) on July 29, 2008 at 1:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Susan - As a Coast Guard wife of 19 years, I understand exactly what you have been going through. My husband is also on his last tour in Virginia while I am here in Natchez taking care of our home. This, for me, is the 1st tour we have been separated by duty station (3 years so far). It was a choice we made after moving every three years and it was not an easy decision to make. Military wifes all over the country opt to do this but it doesn't make any less difficult. My prayers are with you and your family. I hope for a happy holiday season when you can all be together, finally.
Carolyn Weir
Posted by BarbareeSwimmer (anonymous) on July 31, 2008 at 12:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, as an army wife for over 20 years, seeing our two kids uprooted and transplanted 14 times in 18 years, I know exactly why Susan and Michael put their kids first. A military family is like no other, it's funny to me that when the family elects to be seperated everyone has an opinion, but when the military seperates the family, it is for duty of country.
It is time the country and those who do not understand 'our' life style, just accept the incredible strength, we too have to keep our families close regardless of the miles!
We have learned how to keep in touch, even when those miles and years pass. Our kids are well traveled, well rounded and citizens of the world. Susan, keep up the good work. 'Quality vs quantity!'
"Honey, before you leave for war, please take out the trash."
~~~~>-^O_~~~~
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