Mary Eleanor McKinley

October 17, 1925 - March 20, 2022

Mary Eleanor McKinley passed away peacefully at her home on March 20, 2022, of natural causes. She was born to Stanley and Mary Eleanor Hershberger of Pittsburgh on October 17, 1925, and died halfway through her 96th year. An only child, she grew up in Pittsburgh. In 1932 she cut the ribbon to formally open the West End - North Side Bridge. Her uncle, Henry M. Tranter, was instrumental in bringing the bridge to fruition. She attended Langley High School and later, the University of Pittsburgh where she was active in the Pitt Players theater group. She always maintained that while at the University of Pittsburgh she saw her future husband, John G. McKinley, on campus and commented to friend, "That's the man I'm going to marry", before they even met. And that she did in 1952! They remained married for the next 55 years until his death in 2007. They lived in the Baltimore, MD area, both in Catonsville and in Carroll County. At the time of her death Mary Eleanor resided in a single home at Carroll Lutheran Village in Westminster, MD. Although, diminutive in stature, she was known to family and close friends as "BigMa", a sobriquet her children bestowed upon her. Mary Eleanor is survived is survived by her two children: Mary Eleanor "Molly" McEvoy (Michael) of Woodbine, MD and John G. McKinley, IV (Kathryn) of Ellicott City, MD; five grandchildren: William Scott McEvoy, Katelyn McKinley Palacorolla, Andrew Charles McEvoy, Mary Eleanor McEvoy, and Tucker Jay McKinley; and six great-grandchildren. A small graveside at St. John's Cemetery in Ellicott City is planned where she will be interred next to her husband. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.