Bernice "Bernie" McGuirk

Bernie was a good old Kentucky boy through and through, always rooting for the underdog and a horseman his entire life. It felt only right that Golden Tempo, the ultimate long shot, made history at the 2026 Derby, his last.

Bernice “Bernie” McGuirk, 92, went home to Heaven on May 3, 2026. In his high school yearbook, he shared a favorite quote: “His mind labored while his tongue was still, and his tongue rested always.” Anyone who knew Bernie, Papaw to most, would laugh at that and then quickly disagree. His mind was as sharp as ever, packed with dates and details from decades past. And his tongue? Well, it rarely took a day off. Papaw never met a stranger, and he never met a story he didn’t think was worth telling, sometimes twice, just to make sure you caught the good parts.

Born June 19, 1933, in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, Papaw was the middle child of three to Estill and Rose (Wagner) McGuirk. His early years shaped a man who would be defined by resilience, persistence, and a deep commitment to hard work.

His commitment extended to his wife of almost 67 years, Elayne, who affectionately referred to him as “Mighty.” Together, they built a life full of love and family in Lexington. Papaw believed in staying busy. Even after retiring from IBM, he kept working, often holding more than one job at a time, including years at The Red Mile, Keeneland, and McDonald’s. No matter where he was, a story was never far behind, and if you had a few minutes, he had a few more.

His greatest legacy lives on in his family: the laughter he sparked, the stories he told, often pausing mid-sentence to laugh at his own punchline, and the way he would turn every visit into an opportunity to make sure you knew just how much he thought of and loved his family.

In his final years, Papaw was surrounded by the love of his entire family, with especially devoted care from his daughters, Jackie and Becky. The family is very grateful to the teams at Central Baptist and the VA Hospice for the dignity and compassion shown in his final days.

Bernie is survived by his wife, Elayne; his daughters, Jackie (Scott) Warner and Becky (Mike) Johnson; six grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren: Robyn (Chris) Hould and their children Kyle and Lyla; Mandy (Toby) Daniel and their children Leighton, Gracen, Hayes, and Hollyn; Chelsi (Bobby) McDonald and their children Rosco and Ryan; Chase (Kevin Paulsen) Warner; Kylee (T.C.) Clarkston and their children Beck, Crew, and soon to make an appearance, Boone; and Chad (Jessica) Warner and their children Leo and Mila. He was preceded in death by his parents, Estill and Rose, and his siblings, Wilmer and Edna.

We take comfort in imagining his reunion in Heaven, where he has already found a good seat, a familiar face, and is halfway through a story and where he is greeted with a “job so well done, son.”

A celebration of his life will be held at a later date, when his family will scatter his ashes in the places he loved most. His final resting place will be Bluegrass Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Bluegrass.