Millard Lee Mackey, Sr., 91, of Barrackville, WV passed away peacefully in his home on Tuesday, January 23, 2024. He was born February 11, 1932, in Barrackville, to the late Willie Mackey and Annie Marie Kyle Mackey.

He was a 1950 graduate of Dunbar High School in Fairmont. Although his earlier education from first grade through eighth grade was in a building he fondly referred to as "The School Hill."

Millard joined the United States Air Force, October 5, 1951, becoming a Staff Seargeant and serving 4 years in the military until October 4, 1955. After leaving the military and returning home, he asked his father to help him get a job at Barrackville's (No. 7) Coal Mine. After many months of pleading and begging, his persistence finally paid off and in 1955, he became an employee of Bethlehem Coal Company #41, where he worked for 27 years until he retired in 1982.

He is survived by one son, Millard Mackey Jr., of Worthington, daughters, Loretta Wharton Thomas, of Chicago, IL; Brenda Mackey, of Fairmont; Linda Mackey, of Barrackville; Anna Marie Mackey, of Laurel, MD; Misty Mackey (Howard Aiken) of Laurel, MD; Carol Armstead Murphy (Elijah) of Kenansville, NC; one sister, Anette Marie Mackey Taylor, of Fairmont; eight grandchildren, Jacinta (Nikki) Thornton, of Raleigh, NC; Jason Mackey and Jamie Mackey of Fairmont; Natasha Hernandez (Edin) of Laurel, MD; Avery Aiken of Laurel, MD; Janelle Freeman of Greenville, NC; Joy Freeman of Fairmont; and Latasha Freeman of Kenansville, NC; twelve great grandchildren, Sedrick McGlaston of Barrackville; Elena, Jacob, Matthew Millard and Cristiano Hernandez of Laurel, MD; Precious, Janyra, Jason, Malachi, Ajania, Myrical and Josiah of Fairmont and North Carolina; sister-in-law Linda Darcus Meeks of Barrackville; brother-in-law Clarence (Rose Ann) Darcus of Lancaster, PA; goddaughter, Cynthia E. Darcus of Fairmont; stepsister Tomasena Mackey Enoch, Wilkes-Barre, PA; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Joan E. Darcus Mackey; stepmother Naomi Hall Mackey; stepsister Wendy Mackey and goddaughter Deborah Jo Beafore Turner.

Millard was a son, brother, husband, father, coal miner, gardener and storyteller. He loved hosting and entertaining his family and friends, watching the "ball game" and old western movies on TV. He was affectionately referred to as "Uncle Millard" by his nieces and nephews and by "Mackey" from those who knew him well. You could hear him whistling his infamous tune before you saw him. His motto was "You only live once so enjoy your life while you can."

The family will receive friends at Domico Funeral Home, 414 Gaston Avenue in Fairmont, on Friday, February 2, 2024 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. The funeral will be on Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Wesley Q. Dobbs officiating. Interment will follow at Grandview Memorial Gardens. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.domicofh.com.