Bio/Obituary

September 7, 2012

Chattanooga Times Free Press

LaFAYETTE, GA - Patrick Ray McGill, 36, recently of Chattanooga, TN, passed away Sunday night, September 3, 2012. For 17 years, he was the beloved husband and best friend of Heather L. Johnson-McGill as well as the adored, loving, and attentive father of Nikolas Alexander McGill (11) and Lauren Elizabeth McGill (9).

Patrick was born in Fort Oglethorpe, GA, and grew up in LaFayette, GA, surrounded by the love of his father and mother, Ronald Ray McGill and Margaret Diane Hawthorne McGill (deceased); sister, Leigh Ane McGill; and brother, Daniel McGill, as well as his large extended family of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and countless friends.

Patrick was a 1994 graduate of LaFayette High School where his favorite subject was Art. During childhood, he developed his lifelong interest of drawing, animals, skateboarding, baseball, music, and American Sign Language.

Following high school, Patrick was married in September 1994 and lived in LaFayette, GA for more than a year before moving to Brunswick, GA.

In 1996, Patrick joined the U. S. Army and was assigned to Alpha Company, 40th Engineer Battalion, attached to the 1st Armored Division of Baumholder, Germany. With his brothers-in-arms, he served his country in multiple training exercises and deployments, to include Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia and Task Force Hawk. In 2000, he did a permanent change of station to the 10th Engineer Battalion, attached to the 3rd Armored Division of Fort Stewart, GA. Upon completion of his enlisted contract, Patrick was honorably discharged with Combat Veteran status in August 2001. On September 11, 2001, Patrick joined the U. S. Army National Guard and remained in service for the following four years.

With the thoughts of securing the future for his children, Patrick began college in January 2005. He graduated from Coastal Georgia Community College with an associate of science in business in 2007 followed by a Bachelor of Science in liberal arts with a minor in political science in 2009 while working full time as a production supervisor.

In his free time, he volunteered with both the American Red Cross and the American Cancer Society in Brunswick, GA, and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Darien, GA, where he attended regularly before he moved to accept employment away from his home. Patrick most enjoyed spending time with his children - reading, doing homework and projects with them, playing chess, riding bicycles, going to parks, being silly, teaching them about animals and nature, and loving them. When he was away from home, Patrick made sure to write, email, and video-call his children and Heather to assure them of his love and devotion.

As he wished, Patrick's life and love of God, family and country will be given Military Honors at Chattanooga National Cemetery with family in attendance.

A celebration of life and reception will be at The Marsh House in LaFayette, GA, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, September 10, 2012. All friends and family are invited and encouraged to attend.

Pallbearers are MSG Travis Surprise (U.S. Army), Lamar Battles, Eric Shelton, Daniel McGill, Caleb McGill and Lucas Pledger.

In lieu of flowers, Patrick wanted donations to be given to the Polycystic Disease (PKD) Foundation in his honor to fund research for a cure for the genetic disease that he shared with his mother, brother, and daughter.

Arrangements are by Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home, LaFayette, GA.