Elsy B McKinlay

Elsy Beatriz McKinlay, 84, passed away peacefully on March 18, 2026, in Rexburg, Idaho, surrounded by the loving care of those who became like family to her in her final years.

Born on June 1, 1941, in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico, Elsy was the cherished daughter of Rafael Concepción Dzib Pérez and Aida María del Socorro Castillo Cárdenas. She grew up surrounded by family in Mérida, including her younger brother, Jose Rafael Perez Castillo, before immigrating to the United States, where she embraced a new life filled with faith, service, and deep connections.

On June 5, 1979, Elsy married J. Burke McKinlay in a loving union that brought companionship and joy. Though they had no children of their own, Elsy’s heart overflowed with love for children everywhere—she had a remarkable gift for connecting with them, offering encouragement, warmth, and genuine care that left lasting impressions on young lives.

Elsy was a woman of remarkable character: witty and quick with a smile, fiery in her passions, yet endlessly kind and compassionate. She lived her faith through action, generously giving to the poor and those in need, often in quiet, selfless ways. A steadfast member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she served faithfully in the temple for many years, drawing strength and purpose from her sacred callings until health limitations stepped in.

After the passing of her beloved husband, Burke, Elsy relocated to Rexburg, Idaho, where she settled in the old Second Ward area. There, she lovingly cared for her own mother, who had immigrated to join her, providing devoted support until her mother reached the remarkable age of 101. In the last five years of her life, Elsy found a warm and supportive home at The Homestead Senior Living, where she was enveloped in exceptional care.

Elsy requested that no formal service be held in her honor. In the spirit of her generous life, we ask those who remember her to find a simple way to help someone nearby—through a kind act, a listening ear, a donation, or any gesture of compassion.

We extend our profound and heartfelt thanks to the incredible caregivers, nurses, doctors, and administrators at The Homestead in Rexburg. Your love, respect, dedication, and tenderness made Elsy’s final chapter one of dignity, comfort, and genuine care. You truly became her extended family, and your compassion touched her deeply—we are forever grateful.

Elsy is survived by her younger brother, Jose Rafael Perez Castillo, her husband’s nieces, dear friends, and all whose lives she brightened with her vibrant spirit. Her legacy endures in the love she gave so freely and the quiet ways she made the world kinder.

May her memory inspire each of us to live with the same open heart and generous hands.