McKinley "Mac" Lew Chaney, age 83, passed to heaven from his home in Madison on December 3, 2023, after a long battle with Alzheimer's.

He was born September 19, 1940, at home on what is now Redstone Arsenal. Mac was the second child of 8, born to Frank Baker Chaney and Bernice Elkins Chaney. He graduated from the former Riverton High School in 1958 at the top of his class and joined the US Air Force. While stationed in San Antonio, Texas, he married his Huntsville sweetheart, Brenda Louise Earls, in 1961.

They spent several years stationed around the US and in Germany, where daughter Christie was born. Mac studied engineering through the University of Alabama while in the Air Force, then business at East Tennessee State University. After the Air Force, his career took them to Mansfield, Ohio, to work in engineering for North Electric, then ITT. Their son, Martin, and daughter, Karmen, were born in Ohio. ITT moved the family to Johnson City, Tennessee, in 1977. Mac and Brenda, as native Huntsvillians, were proud to come home to Alabama in 1983. Mac continued his career in engineering, then in management and marketing, with SCI Systems and with his own rep firm, Adeptronics.

Mac gave his life to Christ as a young teen and began a lifelong walk with the Lord. He from young adulthood loved to deeply study God's Word. In Texas in the Air Force, he became involved with the church and began Bible studies. For his entire life, he was constantly in group Bible study, learning much Greek and Hebrew and writing many articles. In Ohio, he served as a deacon at the Brookwood Way Church of Christ for years, helped start a successful bus ministry, taught classes and led small groups. After moving back home, Mac served as an elder for several years. He and Brenda helped begin the Castle Drive Church. In the past few years, he and Brenda have attended Twickenham Church of Christ. His special group of friends from the Madison Academy Men's Bible study are conducting the service today.

Mac had many hobbies. He was a lifelong outdoors-man, loving nature, hunting and fishing. He loved vegetable, fruit and flower gardening. There was hardly an animal or plant he could not name. He inherited his dad's skill in woodworking and could build or repair almost anything. Mac loved to sing and play guitar, and wrote many spiritual songs, songs for each grandchild, and many country and cowboy songs. He wrote "Keeper of the Soul" which will be used in his memorial service. He also wrote cowboy stories and books, one published online. Also an avid photographer, Mac won awards for his photos. When his family gathered his photos, they found over 40,000 and over 2500 slides. Several of his artworks from painting and drawing are in the slideshow today.

More than anything, Mac loved his family. He was so proud of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, always ready to support, attend and photograph any of their activities, from ballgames to proms to award shows and especially the weddings. He and Brenda spent 62 years together, and they were the loves of each other's lives. Their faith in God and in each other was an example to all who knew them. Brenda was his faithful caregiver at their home over these past years. Mac is predeceased by his parents, his older brother, Walt, and his nephew, Clint Chaney.

He is survived by the following family members: Wife of 62 years: Brenda Louise Earls Chaney; Children: Christie Chaney McKee (Tom); Madison, Alabama, Dr. Martin McKinley Chaney (Lisa): Columbia, Tennessee, Karmen Chaney Somers (Dr. Wayne Melvin): Tuscumbia, Alabama; Grandchildren: Dr. Taylor McKinley Chaney (Sarah): Charleston, South Carolina, Alex Somers Stansell (Adam); Portland, Oregon, Claire Elise (McKee) King (Mitchell); Peachtree Corners, Georgia, John Jackson Somers (Sharon): Tuscumbia, Alabama, Abbie Caroline (McKee) Brock (Alex): Madison, Alabama, Ragan Thomas Chaney (Mallory): Memphis, Tennessee; Great grandchildren: Henry Thompson King & Vivian Mae Somers; Brothers: Merrill Eugene Chaney (Priscilla); Scottsboro, Alabama, John Chaney; Gurley, Alabama, Phillip Chaney (Angel); Scottsboro, Alabama, Sisters: Patricia Ann Voce (Walter); Columbia, Tennessee, Sarah Chaney Cox (Don); Harvest, Alabama, Joyce Chaney; Harvest, Alabama; Uncle, Hosea Chaney (Gay), Huntsville, AL; Brothers- and Sisters-in-Law: Don & Carol Sanders, Hazel Green, Alabama, Ronnie & Pamala Collie, New Market, Alabama, Robert & Barbara Earls, Town Creek, Alabama, Jerry Earls, Huntsville, Alabama, Kenneth Earls, Huntsville, Alabama, Sue Chaney, Harvest, Alabama & many beloved nieces and nephews

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Judes Children's Hospital, Amedisys Hospice,  or the Bible Department at Madison Academy.

The family wishes to express their sincere appreciation to all those who have supported us during this journey and this time of loss. Special thank you to Amedysis Hospice and Healing Hands Caregivers.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 6th, from 12:00-1:00PM at Berryhill Funeral Home, with a service following at 1:00PM. Burial will take place at Huntsville Memory Gardens.