Randy D. McKinney

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, September 4, 2007

MORGANTOWN – Randy Dale McKinney, 60, died Sept. 1, 2007, at his residence with his wife, Doloris, and daughter, Randa, by his side after a brave battle with cancer.

The Butler County native was a 1965 graduate of Butler County High School, an Army veteran serving from 1966 to 1968, serving in Vietnam from 1967-68, where he served as sergeant in the 1st Infantry Division and 2nd Battalion 28th U.S. Infantry Black Lions. He was a decorated soldier receiving the Purple Heart, three Oak Leaf Clusters and the Bronze Star. He was a 1972 graduate of Bowling Green Business College, earning an associate degree. He was a retired Teamster truck driver for the Tennessee Valley Authority and a member of the Baptist faith, recently baptized by Bro. Steve Rutherford. He was a member of the Teamsters Local 215 in Evansville, a lifetime member of Disabled American Veterans, a Kentucky Colonel and a member of Cassia Masonic Lodge No. 272 F & AM and the Shriners. He was an advocate for veterans’ rights and a 2002 Butler County Chapter of DAR Veteran of the Year. Randy’s passions included spending time with his only grandchild, Jesse McKinna Lee, and hosting her friends at his home. He loved attending her numerous sporting events, especially soccer, at which he was Jesse’s number one fan. He enjoyed thoroughbred horse racing, watching the L.A. Dodgers and spending time with his friends. He took great pride in his yard and garden. In his younger days he loved to bird and rabbit hunt with his beloved beagle, Molly. Randy and Doloris enjoyed entertaining at their beautiful home and gardens. He was a son of the late Charles Dotson McKinney. He was preceded in death by maternal grandparents, Ross and Eliza Givens; paternal grandparents, Charlie and Lizzie McKinney; and his best friend, Harold Lee Jr.

A celebration of his life is at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Smith Funeral Home, with burial in Sandy Creek Cemetery. Visitation begins at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Butler County Cancer Assistance, Shriners Children’s Hospital or the James Graham Brown Cancer Research Hospital.

Special thanks to the chemo staff at VA Vanderbilt in Nashville, Dr. Don Brown at The Medical Center and the RN staff on 4A at The Medical Center. A special thanks to Diane Whitaker, RN, and the oncology staff at James Graham Brown Cancer Center, including Dana Lee, RN.

Survivors include his wife of 37 years, Doloris Johnson McKinney; his only child, Randa McKinney Lee and her husband, Mark, of Bowling Green; his only granddaughter, Jesse McKinna Lee of Bowling Green; a very special cousin, Beverly McKinney Freeman and her husband, Doug, of Paducah; a very dear friend, Dr. T. Dwight McKinney and his wife, Debbie, of Deep Gap, N.C.; a brother, Kerry McKinney and his family, of Morgantown; special aunts and mothers in his heart, Caterine McKinney and her husband, J.V., of Morgantown and Marjorie Givens Maddox of Louisville; an uncle, Rodney Givens and his wife, Karen Lee, of Quality; an aunt, Jolene Belcher and her husband, Paul, of Owensboro; and several cousins and friends.