"Kosmo" Shad A. McKay

“Kosmo” Shad A. McKay, 52, of Hampton, IL, passed away Wednesday May 29, 2024, at OSF St. Francis Medical Center, Peoria.

Visitation will be from 2-6 p.m. Friday June 7, 2024, at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., Moline. Cremation will follow the visitation and memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday June 8, 2024, at the funeral home. The inurnment will take place at the Hampton Cemetery. Memorials may be made to his family for a fund to be established.  

Shad was born on July 3, 1971, in Moline, the son of Samuel and Janice (Mink) McKay. He married Paula M. Byrd on March 10, 2007, in Hampton. He was employed as a truck driver for Cantrells’s Towing & Recovery, Colona, and loved his job moving heavy equipment and thought the bigger, the better. Shad was a former volunteer firefighter for Hampton Fire Department and Carbon Cliff-Barstow Fire District. He attended Christ United Methodist Church, East Moline. He was a diehard biker and active with Sons of Silence MC. Shad’s hobbies included building and driving RC cars and airplanes, tinkering in his garage, and “stalking”. He was always the first person to step up and try something new. He enjoyed visiting with his friends and spending time with his grandchildren.

Shad loved his MC World, the Freedom and Brotherhood that he earned every step of the way.

Survivors include his parents, Samuel & Janice, East Moline; wife, Paula; children, Matthew Grimsley, Eagle River, AK, Jessica Grimsley, Hampton, Alexandra Wiggins, Hillsboro, IL; grandchildren, McKenzie Spellious, Mason Wiggins, Elliott Grimsley; brothers, Sean (Debi) McKay, Hampton, Scott (Christine) McKay, Hampton; nieces and nephews, Ben, Josh, Shelby, Samantha, Seth, Keaden; beloved pets, Keeva and Rusty.

He was preceded in death by his cousin, Marc McKay; uncle, Bruce Mink; aunt, Kathy Johnson; maternal grandparents, Newell & Virginia Mink; paternal grandparents, Wilbur & Helen McKay.

As Shad would say to his granddaughter, “If you’re gonna do it, do it right, never half-assed.”

Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.