William Wayne McKiernan's Obituary
William Wayne McKiernan, 68, of Tallahassee, FL passed away on August 31, 2025, after a
brief but aggressive battle with cancer.
Wayne was born in Port St Joe, Florida on August 10, 1957, to Robert “Bob” and Tillie McKiernan. Growing up in PSJ, Wayne was affectionally known as “Bear” to his friends. He was a football player, paperboy and a graduate of the Port St Joe High School class of 1975. After high school, Wayne enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He went through boot camp at Parris Island and was later stationed in Washington DC as a driver for General Snowden at the Pentagon.
In 1982, Wayne met Kimberly Jowers at the Top of the Gulf Restaurant in Mexico Beach, Florida. He always said that meeting and marrying Kimberly was the best decision he ever made. The couple married on August 11,1984 and celebrated 41 wonderful years together. They loved spending days at the beach together and going to concerts.
Wayne loved his two daughters, Elizabeth and Laura. Wayne had a way of making the simplest moments into the best memories for his girls. He always had a box of Boston Baked Beans and Lemonheads for them. They often joked about a particular incident involving a 1990 gold Volvo and two armadillos or that one time at the holding pond. He was their blinker fluid changer, wompus cat catcher and personal hair dryer. Wayne was always a phone call away when they needed anything.
Known to his friends and family as “Wild Wayne” he triumphantly marched to the beat of his own drum and lived his life by the motto “Why Be Normal?' He was a passionate fisherman, especially in Lake Miccosukee and Cape San Blas. Wild Wayne loved playing music in the house. Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Lynyrd Skynyrd could be heard from a mile away on any given Sunday afternoon.
Wayne is preceded in death by his parents Bob and Tillie McKiernan. He is survived by his wife, Kimberly, his daughters Elizabeth (George), Laura (Danny) and grandson Elias, his brother Bobby McKiernan (Linda), sister Debbie Earley (Phil), a host of cousins, nieces and nephews, and his German Shephard dog, Willow.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at Indian Springs Baptist Church. The family will receive visitors at 1:00pm with the funeral following at 2:00pm. Indian Springs Baptist Church is located at 5593 Veterans Memorial Drive, Tallahassee, FL.
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