Joseph E. McKinney
March 22, 1916 ~ March 18, 2006
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Asheville Butterfly Trail
Joseph E. McKinney, 89, of 60 Hensley Drive, Asheville, died Saturday, March 18, 2006, at Aston Park Health Care.
A native of Madison County, he was a son of the late Norman Lynch and Mary Shuford McKinney. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Plemmons McKinney, who died in 1973; three sisters, Kate Brock, Dale Phipps and Jalina Chandler; four brothers, Bill, Hicks, Landon and Thurman McKinney. Mr. McKinney worked for American Enka for 35 years and was a member of Trinity Baptist Church.
Survivors include four children, Sandra Hensley and husband Howard, Leon McKinney and wife Becky, Clayton McKinney and wife Margaret, David McKinney and wife Betty, all of Asheville; nine grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 2:00 pm Monday at Trinity Baptist Church with the Revs. Ralph Sexton, Jr., Jerry Young and Allen Rash officiating. Burial will follow at Bent Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.
His family will receive friends from 6:30-8:30 pm Sunday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue and request that memorials be made to Trinity Baptist Church, 216 Shelburne Road, Asheville, NC 28806.
Uncle Joe’ will be remembered by the extended family as a man who loved God, loved to sing, and loved to be loved on!! He never failed to have a hug ready for any of us who might have needed it. David, Tink, Cub, Sandra and families…we are thinking of you and love you. We’ll all miss him too!! What a Mckinney quartet is in heaven now…don’t you wish you could hear it??? Love, Marsh
My thoughts and prayers are with each of you through this difficult time. May the lord keep you and bless you in the days to come.
Dear McKinney Family,
I am truly sorry for your loss. Joe was a very special person. When Mike and I first came to Trinity, Joe would always hug and love on us. Mike would always try to catch up with him after church for a ‘few’ words. Little did any of us know that they would make their heavenly trip within days of each other. My heartfelt sympathy to you.
No one could have ever asked for a better PawPaw! He always put God first in his life! I have cherished memories of driving by the Enka Plant and seeing him sitting under a shade tree reading his Bible on his lunch break, praising the Lord with his singing, and telling others about Jesus! He didn’t just talk the talk, he was faithful and walked the walk.
He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather to his family. He will be missed by his loved ones here but today he got his promotion and I know he is singing for Jesus right now!
No one could have asked for a better loving and caring great-grand father. He was always looking out for me telling me how much him and God loved me. I can remember sitting at nannies house in Paws lap when I was a little girl and him teaching me how to eat my chips without making noises. I know he is better off now in heaven with God and my great-grandmother. I will miss him, but i know I will see him again.
I once knew a man that wanted to go home to live with the Lord so bad, that I could’nt understand why God would not go ahead and call him home. He could not talk about the Lord with our crying. I only wish that I could have been half the person that he was. He never had a bad thing to say about anybody. This man was Joe Mckinney and he was my grandfather. I admired him so much. I can only imagine what Heaven was like today when he walked through those gates, and meet Jesus face to face, and after 33 years, he got to see Granny again. He was a wonderful man as well as husband, father, grandfather and friend. This earth has lost and great man, but Heaven just got a little better.
Dear Sandra and guys,
So sorry to learn of the loss of such a wonderful man, your Dad.
All the years I’ve known him, I never saw him once with a frown or less than a smile; even at Aston Park.
Be happy and consoled in the fact that you don’t doubt his destination.
Thank all of you for your friendships over these past 36 years.
Love to all of you children: Margaret, Becky and Betty too.
Jeanette
When I was a child I met Joe and Nancy at my grandfather’s home John Milt Shuford, in the Celo Comm. of Yancey County. My mother is Annie Shuford Autrey, and is still living. Our heartfelt sorrow go out to you as you lay to rest your beloved father, grandfather, and friend. Of the many ‘Shuford First Cousins’ only my mother, Annie Shuford Autrey, her sister. Bonnie Shuford Hensley, Bradley Shuford, and Molt Shuford are the only ones still living. I would like to get in contact with some one in the McKinney family, as I have a lot of history on the Shuford’s but very little on Uncle Norman’s side of the family. God bless you all, my prayers and thoughts are with you. Sheila Wolfe(second, third or so cousin)
We just wanted to let you know we are sorry for your loss, we know how that feels, but at the same it is so hard not to rejoice when you realize where he is now! Danny and I think a lot of the McKinney clan. All of you guys really are a blessing to our church and to us personally. We cherish your friendships.
sorry to hear of the lost of joe may god bless and give you peace.love marcia
Becoming a recent friend of Jamie’s I just wanted to let the family and Jamie, know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Becoming a recent friend of Jamie’s I just wanted to let the family and Jamie, know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Becoming a recent friend of Jamie’s I just wanted to let the family and Jamie, know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Leon, Our thoughts and prayers are with you. We did not know until Mike called us at 8:00 on Sunday. Leon, I am sorry for your loss.We only have 1 Dad. Our Dads are who we are. You’re in my thoughts and prayers.We’re with you! Linda & Darrell
i do have incredibly fond memories.to all the family i im so sorry,and my prayers are with you.i do believe he is in an incredible forest with a stick;in camo,hunting ginsing.god bless. this grandson inlaw loved him too. tim wilson
I have never been more sure of anyone loving our Lord and being ready to go home. I also feel sure that papa is in heaven with granny singing and walking the streets of gold, hand in hand celebrating their reunion . I’m also sure he was smiling when he left us, knowing he had the last laugh, who else would leave before he blew out the 90 candles on the birthday cake we were going to have that day. I love you papa!
Sandra, I’m so sorry to hear of your loss, as i sit here thinking as we were growing up together, was remembering all the good times that we had as children. Remembered your dad calling me Ann-Vanner, just alot more memories i could share but this one stuck with me. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, love all of you
Ann-Vanner
Dear McKinney Family:
I would like to extend my sympathy to each of you. Joe was a special person. I knew him as a teenager growing up and remember him singing the bass part in the choir. He always had something good to say about everyone and He had a way of making everyone feel good with his endless compliments. He continued that after he came to live here with us in Aston Park. He would tell all the little ladies how pretty they were and that would bring a smile to their faces. He also witnessed to everyone and made sure that they knew that Jesus had died for them. Many did not know how to take it, but he planted the seed. Joe brought many smiles to all the faces here at Aston Park and we will miss him greatly.
Leon and Family,
Ilearned of Joe’s death today (3-20-06). I am very sorry. I always liked your Dad. It is very hard to lose your father. You are in my thoughts and prayers. I pray God’s grace will bring comfort to you and your family.
Wayne & Brenda