Beaver Legend Mike McVay Passes Away

A man who was always quick to smile, to joke, care, and  strive in Beaver has passed away. The Beaver community is saddened and feeling the loss of legendary former coach Mike McVay. He  passed away at the age of 67 on Sunday evening. He was the 21 year head football coach of the Dusters before hanging up the whistle after the 2015 season to take an administrative role.  An architect of Beaver credos “We Believe” and “Duster Magic” leaves Beaver with a myriad of happy memories.  During his 27 years at Beaver schools, he was the Beaver High School Principal, head football coach and head track coach until he retired in 2018. McVay graduated from Beaver High School in 1973. Through his high school years, he was a football star gaining All State and All-American accolades, among many other recognitions. He went on to play football as a kicker at West Texas State in Canyon, TX and then onto Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, OK. He was head football coach in Beaver from 1995-2015. Memorial service, on Saturday, December 10, 2022 at 2:00 p.m., at Beaver Field House, 925 Ave H, Beaver, OK. Alan Clark Funeral Services is in charge of the services. Here is the full obituary.

Michael Lynn “Coach” McVay, 67, of Beaver, OK, loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, passed away surrounded by his family on Sunday, December 4, 2022.
Mike was born on August 12, 1955 to Tom and Helen McVay in Pauls Valley, OK. Shortly after, they moved to Beaver, OK where he attended school until he graduated from Beaver High School in 1973. Through his high school years, he was a football star gaining All State and All-American accolades, among many other recognitions. He went on to play football as a kicker at West Texas State in Canyon, TX and then onto Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, OK.

After graduating with a Bachelor’s in Biology and a Master’s in Public School Administration, he started his first coaching job as an assistant football coach in Great Bend, KS in 1978. A year later, he then took the head football coach position in Protection, KS where he coached two winning seasons.  While there, he met the love of his life Nancy Rhodes, whom he married in 1984.  He left coaching in 1981 to pursue a business venture owning an appliance business with his brothers in Edmond, OK and in Amarillo, TX.  Then, in 1995, the opportunity to go back to his hometown of Beaver, OK to become the Head Football Coach arose, and he took it and never looked back.  Beaver is where he and Nancy have called “home” for more than 27 years. Throughout his career with Beaver Public Schools, he was the High School Principal, Head Football Coach and Head Track Coach until he retired in 2018.

Mike enjoyed spending time and making memories with his family and friends.  His favorite things included boating on Lake Texoma, fishing, hunting, going to the mountains, betting on horse races, and, of course, football, especially the Huskers and Red Raiders.  His most beloved passion was being a coach and mentor to hundreds of young men and women.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Tommy McVay and Donnie McVay; in-laws Earl and Henrietta Rhodes; and brother-in-law Ike Groce. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Nancy; his three daughters and their families, Summer and Whitley Gard of Stillwater, OK, Paige, Zack, Grey, Liv, Hazen and Navy Rankin of Berthoud, CO and Myriah McVay of Beaver, OK; sisters, Pam and Robert Young of Edmond, OK, Sharon and James Dunham of Durant, OK, and Carolyn Groce of Stillwater, OK; sister-in-laws, Leslie McVay of Edmond, OK and Chele McVay of Lubbock, TX; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, uncles and aunts.

Memorial service, on Saturday, December 10, 2022 at 2:00 p.m., at Beaver Field House, 925 Ave H, Beaver, OK. Alan Clark Funeral Services is in charge of the services