Kevin "Mc" McIlvoy

Kevin C. McIlvoy, known to his many friends simply as “Mc,” died suddenly on September 30, 2022, in Asheville, North Carolina. The cause of death, at 69, was a heart attack. Born in Granite City, Illinois, in 1953, Mc became a bold and innovative creative writer; a brilliant, beloved teacher and mentor to hundreds of writers; and a meticulous, deeply insightful editor of literary manuscripts. He was, as well, a uniquely kind, loving, and supportive husband, father, stepfather, grandfather, brother, and colleague.

During his six decades of commitment to his art, he published six novels: One Kind Favor, At the Gate of All Wonder, Hyssop, Little Peg, The Fifth Station, and A Waltz; a short story collection, The Complete History of New Mexico; a book of short fictions and prose poems, 57 Octaves Below Middle C; and, most recently, numerous poems. Several posthumous manuscripts are in development. His writing fascinated and provoked his critics and his fans. A multi-talented creative, Mc drew, painted, and made scratch art, including the covers of his most recent two books. He was legendary for his voice performances, as reader and singer, and he loved to play blues harmonica, an extension of that expressive voice. Music of nearly every genre thrilled him; he maintained a huge and growing collection of music, shared it via playlists with family and friends, DJ’d eclectic dance parties for writers, and, just to please his wife, became a ballroom dancer in his fifties. He had a tremendous love of the natural world, listening to it closely and immersing himself fully while fly fishing, hiking, gardening, and, as a younger man, distance-running and cross-country skiing. In retirement, he revived his boyhood passion for singles tennis, and committed to it fully.

Mc taught creative writing at the New Mexico State University from 1981 until he retired, as Regents Professor, in 2008 and moved to Asheville. He helped found the MFA program at NMSU while teaching in the Warren Wilson College MFA Program for Creative Writers from 1989 until 2019. He received many awards and recognitions for his teaching including a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship. Mc was faculty at dozens of national writers conferences, manuscript consultant for several university presses, and, for twenty-seven years, editor-in-chief of the national literary magazine Puerto del Sol. He never tired of offering his gifts in volunteer service. He was instrumental in raising $2 million to preserve the Rio Grande Theatre in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He served on the Board of Directors of the Council of Literary Magazines and Presses and the Association of Writers and Writing Programs. For twenty-five years he facilitated a writers’ group at the Munson Senior Center in Las Cruces, guiding many toward first-book publication in their 80s or beyond. He was similarly available to colleagues, former students, and new and old friends for advice, encouragement, blurbs and recommendations. He advocated directly and individually for the dignity and wellbeing of the poor, the disabled, the elderly, the undocumented, and the incarcerated.

He leaves behind his wife, the writer Christine Hale; his sons Paddy McIlvoy (Morgan Buckert) and Colin Allen (Holly); stepdaughter Jackie Amis (Stevie Linton); stepson Buddy Amis (Christiana); five grandchildren: Poppy and Lincoln Allen, and Ausha, Nyemetaay, and Matetaay Linton; his brothers Dave (Leana), Tom (Sue), and Jeff McIlvoy; his sisters-in-law Betsy Hale and Sara Hale Henry (Austin); many nieces, nephews, and cousins; and thousands of friends and colleagues. He was pre-deceased by his sister Wendy Zimmerman and his parents, Wendell and Martha McIlvoy.

Family and friends are organizing celebrations of his life and his work. Interment will be private, at Carolina Memorial Sanctuary. In honor of Mc’s capacious, loving heart, please consider donating to Beloved Asheville (https://belovedasheville.com/) or The Holden Fund for Diversity at the MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College (https://friendsofwriters.org/portfolio-item/the-holden-fund-for-diversity/) or an organization in your community supporting the arts and artists or directly engaged in uplifting the hungry, the unhoused, the marginalized, and the disenfranchised.

Groce Funeral Home’s Lake Julian team is assisting the family.