UTICA — Abbie Leone Major “Pinky” McKey passed away peacefully, after a long and brave battle with COPD, on Monday, May, 2, 2011. She was born on Sept. 3, 1921, in Boston, Mass., to Abbie and Harold Major.

Pinky was a positive thinker. In the worst of situations, her comment was, “Everything’s going to be all right, just you wait and see.” And, sure enough, she was usually right.

She had several accomplishments in her life. She was employed by the United States Postal Service in Utica as a postal clerk first, and ultimately postmaster, until her retirement. She was an active member of the Utica Better Living Home Demonstration Club for many years and was named and recognized as Woman of the Year for 1980. She was an expert at sewing and homemaking and a perfectionist at crocheting, for which she won numerous blue ribbons at the Mississippi State Fair. She was also an exceptional cook, especially Mexican food and pastries.

She also had other accomplishments. As one member of her extended family said, “There was nothing that she couldn’t do. You just name something, and she would say, ‘Oh, I know how to do that. Do you want me to teach you?’”

In her younger days, she was an equestrian at Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Dr. Noel K. McKey; and three sisters, Ruth Myers, Beth Johnson and Jerry Crist, all from Texas.

She leaves behind three children, Sharon Michele Ammon, Linda Leone McKey and Noel Kirk (Brenda) McKey; and four grandchildren, Noel Leslie Ammon, Erin Clair Ammon, Noel Kaleb McKey and Alex Jordan McKey.

Her daughter Linda says, “We have beautiful, funny and loving memories of our Mama, and will miss her forever. She was the glue that held our family together.”

Pinky was a longtime, loyal and supportive member of the Utica Christian Church, where a visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m., followed by a memorial service, directed byGlenwood Funeral Home, on Friday, May 20, 2011.

Memorials may be made to the Utica Volunteer Fire Department Rescue Unit. Her final gift was anatomical, to the University Medical Center, to help others.