Well-known lakeside Tai Chi instructor and Focus on Mexico backbone and consultant Bill McConnaughey died December 26 in his Ixtlahuacan de los Membrillos home.
Born August 5, 1941, in Clinton, Missouri, McConnaughey discovered the world during his formative years while living with an uncle in France and Belgium. He planned a military career and joined the U.S. Army at age 18. After 12 years of service and achieving the rank of captain, it was his service in Vietnam that convinced him that he did not want to re-enlist.
In the ensuing years, McConnaughey’s peaceful nature, sense of humor and 45-year practice of martial arts led him to his own gentle and characteristically quiet spiritual quest. He left the past behind him and learned to live in the current moment striving to help others and to joyously improve his knowledge, friendships and community.
In April 2002, McConnaughey met the love of his life, Karen Marts Brown on Match.Com. After a visit to Mexico in September 2003, they returned to the United States and sold two houses, two lifetimes of belongings, planned a December 13, 2003, wedding and moved to their lakeside home.
As a 30-year instructor of the original Chen Tai Chi, McConnaughey began teaching Tai Chi almost immediately after moving to lakeside. He was a dedicated man with an exceptional work ethic. He eventually created his own form of Tai Chi, which he called Grulla Pacifica (Peaceful Crane) which according to his friends is the perfect description of this man.
When the McConnaugheys’ IT, writing, website and social skills drew the attention of the Focus on Mexico founders in 2006, they both joined up, hosting up to 14 groups of tourists per year and managing the electronic media, social marketing and group services.
A celebration of McConnaughey’s life on December 30 filled the Little Chapel by the Lake with his friends, students, admirers and Focus alumni.
He is survived by his wife, Karen, his dogs, Ana and Maggie, and his six grown children.