Chris McDill, a local artist and craftsman, died yesterday after a lengthy illness.
He was 33.
He died peacefully at his Columbus home early Sunday afternoon while surrounded by family and friends. He had battled brain cancer for nearly three years.
Together with his wife, Katie, the McDills were beloved members of the Columbus arts scene and the community. Chris showed an aptitude for art as a young child. In a 2009 interview, he noted that as a kid growing up in a rural community where his father was a pastor, he turned to wood-working as something to break the monotony of country living. Although he matured into a master wood-crafter, McDill turned his attention to other creative outlets, eventually focusing on producing soaps and candles that he and Katie turned into a business.
When he began to suffer fainting spells in the summer of 2013, McDill went to the hospital, where doctors found a tumor. In the years since the diagnosis, friends say he remained in good humor as the community rallied around the couple.
Ryan Munson, a friend of the McDill family, described Chris as “smart, confident, charismatic and ambitious.”
“It was so easy to like a guy like that,” Munson told The Dispatch this morning.
The community supported Chris and his family through his illness.
“Most of all, I think people gravitated to him because of his genuineness,” Munson said.
“I am proud that he was my friend,” he added.
Katherine Munson, another friend of the McDill family, said Chris and his wife inspired the people around him because he brought “an abundance of joy, energy and wisdom to every relationship they graced.”
Funeral services are incomplete and will be announced by Memorial Funeral Home.
For those interested in helping Katie McDill, there is a GoFundMe account at gofundme.com/chrismcdill.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 36 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
