Barry Brennan “Mickey” McGraw, age 74, of Grandview, WV and formerly of Marie, WV went home to be with the Lord and Savior peacefully at home on Sunday, November 27, 2022, after a five-year battle with metastatic lung cancer.
Barry was born on March 1, 1948, in Fireco, and was preceded in death by his loving parents, John and Ethel Mae Smith McGraw.
Mickey loved playing basketball and baseball as a child in the coal camp of Fireco, where his dad, John McGraw coached. He and his family lived an idyllic life in Fireco, which created a nostalgic childhood, and a circle of lifelong friends, whom he dearly cherished.
Barry graduated from Stoco High School in 1966 and was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War in 1967, and proudly served his country. Barry worked as a coal miner and was employed with security for the VAMC in Beckley until retirement. He also worked at Kroger in security and management for fifteen years.
Barry retired in 2016 and enjoyed his time in Monroe County at his camp and his family farm hunting, feeding the wildlife, four-wheeling, and relaxing on the porch alone or with family and friends.
He was always in his tree stand well before dawn. It was a very special time for him. He loved watching the first light, listening to the birds sing, watching the wildlife start to stir. He said he felt the presence of God in all his glorious creation. He enjoyed this quiet time just as much, maybe even more than hunting.
Besides his parents, Barry was preceded in death by his brother, Robert (Fatty) McGraw, a niece Paula Bailey Akers, a sister-in-law Mary Long McGraw, a brother-in-law Danny Akers, an infant daughter, and a stepson Mike Bennett.
Those survivors left to cherish his memory include his wife of 24 years, Betty Hornsby-McGraw; his brother, John McGraw Jr. of Fireco; brother Charles (Chuck) and wife Sue of Shady Spring; sister Kay Akers Twigg of Uniontown, OH; step daughter Theresa and Dusty Blevins of Yadkinville, NC; step son, Adam Bennett and his companion Angela of Grandview; many nieces and nephews whom he adored dearly; four step grandsons, Brent Brammer, George Blevins, Mikey (and Saori) Bennett, and Ayden Andrews; a step great granddaughter, Nora.
The family extends a heartfelt thanks to Dr. Lee of the VA Hospital in Beckley, BARH, and Hospice of Southern WV. Love donations to Hospice is greatly appreciated.
Funeral services will be conducted at the Rose and Quesenberry Peace Chapel in Beckley on Friday, December 2, 2022, at 6 PM with Rev. William Plumley officiating. His cremains will be scattered in Monroe County at a later date. Friends may visit with the family from 4 PM until time of services on Friday at the funeral home.
Private online condolences and other expressions of sympathy may be directed to the family via our guestbook at www.roseandquesenberry.net.
Arrangements are by Rose and Quesenberry Funeral Home, 1901 South Kanawha Street, Beckley, WV.
