“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” II Timothy 4:7
Kenneth Ray “Kenny” McKinney, 62, of Elizabethton, went home to be with the Lord, Tuesday, May 6, 2014, at his residence following a courageous battle with cancer.
A native of Cynthiana, Ky., he was the son of the late Betty McKinney Bays and the stepson of the late Keith Bays. He was also preceded in death by his grandparents, Anna Mary McKinney and Russell Reed McKinney.
Kenny had lived in Elizabethton since 1970. He had worked for the City of Elizabethton and later worked in road construction for many years. He was retired due to disability as a brick mason.
Kenny was a member of Lynn Valley Baptist Church. Known to many as “Wahoo,” he was a Dale Earnhardt Sr. NASCAR Racing Fan and loved to go fishing at Watauga Lake.
Survivors include his wife, Janie Bradley McKinney, of the home; his two loving and faithful companions, his dogs, Molly and Magnum; a sister, Vickie McKinney, Paris, Ky.; two brothers and a sister-in-law, Randy and Sue McKinney, Paris, Ky., and Michael McKinney, Cynthiana, Ky.; a special sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Shirley and Melvin Nave, Elizabethton; two brothers-in-law, Joey and Danny Bradley, both of Pensacola, Fla.; five nieces, Sissy, Connie, Nikki, Lee Ann and Michelle; a great-niece and her husband, Brittany and John Bates, and a great-great-niece, Ashton Bates, all of Elizabethton; special friends, Sherry Townsend, Gary Phillips, Steve Archer, Linda Bass, Sandy Miller, Leo White, Kathy Shipley, Leonard and Sheila Reece, Pat and Homer Hicks, Wilma Ball, Rick and David Campbell and his friends and coffee buddies at Aunt B’s Restaurant. Several other nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles also survive.
A Celebration of Life service for Mr. McKinney will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, May 9, at Memorial Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Dennis Wilson and Dr. James Richardson officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, prior to the service. Friends may also call at the residence of Melvin and Shirley Nave, 412 Carter Blvd., Elizabethton, at other times. Graveside services and interment will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 10, at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be John Bates, Johnny Bates, David Williams, Michael Williams, Cody Williams, J.D. Williams and Drew Williams. Honorary pallbearers will be Melvin Nave, Jack Williams, Jim Williams and Don Williams. Everyone is asked to meet at the funeral home at 9:15 a.m. Saturday to go in procession to the cemetery. The family would like to express a special thank you to his caregiver, Shirley Nave; Greg and Barbara with Mountain States Hospice; Dr. Devapiran Jaishankar and Whitney; and Dr. Kyle Colvett. Condolences to the McKinney family may be e-mailed to mfc@chartertn.net.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.