 Dennis “Mac” McAlexander was born on January 25, 1954 in a little sleeper town called Oskaloosa, in Kansas. The town was so small if you sneezed or blinked you would miss it! There were no stop lights, just a root beer store and the businesses closed every afternoon at 4:30. Dennis' parents, Calla and Carrie McAlexander were of Indian and Scottish decent. Dennis was the 7th of ten kids!
Dennis went to school in his home town area though high school and did internships at the town garage to gain experience as a mechanic. After high school Dennis worked for Case Tractor Company and schooled for the profession in Wisconsin.
In 1980 Dennis, his wife Hilary and the two children, Sabrena and Jeremy, moved to Florida where they met Mr. and Mrs. Kelley at church. Soon thereafter Mac came to work at A.W. Kelley's Gardens as their mechanic. He relates that Mr. Kelley has always treated him and his family with much kindness and dignity.
Currently Dennis and Hilary attend Riverside Baptist Church in Fort Myers. For years Mac has played guitar with the church praise band, for which he is honored. Their son Jeremy, who passed away in March of 2007, went to the University of Kansas and worked for Wink TV in Fort Myers, behind the camera. Their daughter Sabrina is married to Brad who is a pastor in the Tampa area. They have two wonderful children, Grace and Jeremiah.
For 25 years Mac has been the only "shade tree" mechanic here at A.W. Kelley's Gardens, Inc. He keeps all the trucks, tractors, and golf carts in tip-top shape. He misses Mr. Kelley since his passing but says it is a pleasure to work with such good, honest folks like the Kelley's, who are also dear friends. |
