Kevin McAtee

Flowers from a funeral were still in the back seat of the McAtees’ Chevrolet Trailblazer when it was struck from behind by an alleged drunken driver June 6.

The crash resulted in Kevin McAtee’s death, and family members remembered the 61-year-old Clinton Township man as a kind soul following a Thursday, July 6, court appearance for the woman charged in connection to the crash.

Karen McAtee said she and her husband had taken time to spruce up a few graves after attending a funeral earlier that day.

They were stopped for the traffic light shortly before 7 p.m. at the intersection of Route 8 and Litman Road when a Ford Fusion driven by 51-year-old Julie Parison, of Mars, rear-ended the McAtee’s Trailblazer.

The impact pushed the McAtee’s Trailblazer to the other side of the road, where it was struck by a northbound Chevrolet Malibu. Kevin was pronounced dead on scene, police said.

“I only heard the brakes a little bit,” Karen said, before she was knocked out from the impact. She woke up as first responders removed the roof of her car.

Karen was transported to a hospital for several injuries, including fractured ribs and a concussion.

“He would have helped (Parison) out (of her car), whether it was her fault or not,” said Eric McAtee, Kevin’s youngest son.

Parison is charged with homicide by vehicle, driving under the influence, reckless and careless driving, and driving at an unsafe speed and three counts of misdemeanor DUI.

Karen described her husband as a beautiful person.

“He was probably the kindest man ever. He talked to everybody and he would help everybody,” she said.

“There’s not a negative thing he portrayed in the world,” Eric said. “If you would have met him, you wouldn’t have forgot him.”

Kevin’s funeral was held six days after the crash, on June 12. According to Eric, many people came to show their support.

Kevin is survived by six children and eight grandchildren. He was employed at a warehouse for Giant Eagle and was a former lieutenant for the West Deer Township Volunteer Fire Company.

Dan McAtee, Kevin’s older son, said his father’s nickname was “Camp Counselor,” and they would joke about how Kevin could go anywhere in the world and know someone.

“He never left home without his smile on,” Eric said.

At one point, Kevin invited his favorite grocery store clerk to the family Christmas dinner, according to Karen.

“It’s hard,” Eric said of his father’s death. “He raised us to toughen us up. With the support group we have, we can keep walking forward.”