Obituary for Gregory Allen McKillip
Gregory Allen McKillip, 73, of Sparks, Nevada passed away peacefully on July 12, 2021 at home in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi with his loving family by his side. Greg was born on September 9, 1947 in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi, the second of four brothers who all served in the military during the Vietnam War.
Greg loved art, fishing, surfing, baseball and football. He was the quarterback for the Kaneohe Midgets Pop Warner Football team who won the 1960 Hawaiʻi State Championship and is a graduate of Castle High School class of 1965. After brother Merril (who was the bass guitarist for Kui Lee & the Kanakas) was drafted into the Army, Merril left his bass guitar for safekeeping to his 3 brothers who self-taught themselves to play guitar and bass. They were all musically gifted and could sing / play songs by ear without sheet music.
Greg enlisted in the US Air Force in 1966, was an Illustrator and after eight years, was honorably discharged as Sergeant. He then pursued his artistic talents as a self-employed jewelry designer making his own templates (similar to Hawaiian heirloom) to create original pieces for his clients. Greg was a free spirit, loved adventure and the outdoors. He travelled and resided in Maine & Missouri where he set up his jewelry shop at each location eventually relocating to Sparks, Nevada to live with brother John where he set up his jewelry shop for the last time.
Greg was preceded in death by mother Muriel A.F. McKillip, father John A. McKillip, brothers Merril A. McKillip and John A. McKillip.
Greg is survived by his brother Marshall (Desiree) McKillip of Honolulu, Hawaiʻi; he leaves behind two children whom he loved very much, daughter Leah Cantu of New York & Texas, son Gregory Escobedo of Texas, 9 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren; niece Leilani McKillip, 1 great nephew & 2 great nieces of Sparks, Nevada; many classmates and friends who have lost touch throughout the years…all of whom will miss Greg very much.
We would like to acknowledge all the staff at the Reno VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System (Critical Care Unit, Inpatient Services, Geriatric Extended Care Services, CLC Division, VA Hospital Medivac Air Ambulance Pilots & CCRN Flight Nurses), AMR Ambulance EMTs of Honolulu, Hawaiʻi and Mālama Ola Health Services of Honolulu, Hawaiʻi for without everyone’s dedication and assistance, we would not have been able to bring our beloved brother home.
Inurnment for brothers Gregory A. McKillip and John A. McKillip will be at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. They will be buried with brother Merril A. McKillip … BROTHERS REUNITED!!
Private inurnment burial at a later date
Greg loved art, fishing, surfing, baseball and football. He was the quarterback for the Kaneohe Midgets Pop Warner Football team who won the 1960 Hawaiʻi State Championship and is a graduate of Castle High School class of 1965. After brother Merril (who was the bass guitarist for Kui Lee & the Kanakas) was drafted into the Army, Merril left his bass guitar for safekeeping to his 3 brothers who self-taught themselves to play guitar and bass. They were all musically gifted and could sing / play songs by ear without sheet music.
Greg enlisted in the US Air Force in 1966, was an Illustrator and after eight years, was honorably discharged as Sergeant. He then pursued his artistic talents as a self-employed jewelry designer making his own templates (similar to Hawaiian heirloom) to create original pieces for his clients. Greg was a free spirit, loved adventure and the outdoors. He travelled and resided in Maine & Missouri where he set up his jewelry shop at each location eventually relocating to Sparks, Nevada to live with brother John where he set up his jewelry shop for the last time.
Greg was preceded in death by mother Muriel A.F. McKillip, father John A. McKillip, brothers Merril A. McKillip and John A. McKillip.
Greg is survived by his brother Marshall (Desiree) McKillip of Honolulu, Hawaiʻi; he leaves behind two children whom he loved very much, daughter Leah Cantu of New York & Texas, son Gregory Escobedo of Texas, 9 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren; niece Leilani McKillip, 1 great nephew & 2 great nieces of Sparks, Nevada; many classmates and friends who have lost touch throughout the years…all of whom will miss Greg very much.
We would like to acknowledge all the staff at the Reno VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System (Critical Care Unit, Inpatient Services, Geriatric Extended Care Services, CLC Division, VA Hospital Medivac Air Ambulance Pilots & CCRN Flight Nurses), AMR Ambulance EMTs of Honolulu, Hawaiʻi and Mālama Ola Health Services of Honolulu, Hawaiʻi for without everyone’s dedication and assistance, we would not have been able to bring our beloved brother home.
Inurnment for brothers Gregory A. McKillip and John A. McKillip will be at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi. They will be buried with brother Merril A. McKillip … BROTHERS REUNITED!!
Private inurnment burial at a later date