The Life of DARWIN EUGENE MCKRAY

Darwin Eugene McKray, 80, life-long resident of Des Moines passed away on May 17, 2020. He was born August 3, 1939, in Panora, Iowa, to Harold McKray and Doris (DeVoogt) McKray.

Darwin graduated from the Des Moines Public Schools. He went on to be employed as a union laborer in the Des Moines area his entire adult life and was a member of the Laborers International Union of North America.

Darwin was an active hunter and fisherman. He was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs and Green Bay Packers, as well as the Iowa Hawkeyes, Iowa State Cyclones, and local Des Moines professional baseball, football, hockey, and basketball teams.

Darwin resided his last four years at Ramsey Village Care Community where he developed many close friendships with residents and staff. His family is deeply appreciative of the care Darwin received at Ramsey.

Darwin was preceded in death by his father, Harold, in 1988, and his mother, Doris, in 2009. He is survived by sisters, Dolores Groesbeck (Dan) of Lorimor, Iowa, and DeLane Sparland (Kent) of West Salem, Wisconsin; nephews, Jerry Jenkins, Jr. (Colleen) of Des Moines, Matthew Sparland (Lisa) of Ridgecrest, California, and Brian Sparland (Joy) of Fitchburg, Wisconsin; great-niece, Madison Jenkins of Des Moines, great-nephews, Calvin and Burke Sparland of Fitchburg, Wisconsin.

A private graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26, 2020, at Highland Memory Gardens Cemetery, 1 NE 60th Avenue in Des Moines.