John Lee McKinney

JOHN McKINNEY Tupelo - John Lee McKinney, 82, died October 29, 2012 at the VA Medical Center in Houston, Texas after a lengthy illness. He was born July 4, 1930 to Lee and Hattie McKinney in Shannon. He retired from the US Army in 1971 after 20 years of honorable military service. He loved spending time with his family, watching baseball and helping out with handyman projects. A graveside service will be 12:30 pm Saturday, November 3, 2012 at Tupelo Memorial Park with Rev. Gerald Gann Officiating. W. E. Pegues Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements. His wife, Josephine Yarbrough McKinney preceded him in death. He is survived by his sister, Laverne Clayton and her husband Ray of Mooreville, Mississippi; his son, John Robert (Bobby) McKinney and his wife Terre of Houston, Texas; his daughter, Mary McKinney Ward and her husband, Colonel David Ward of Woodbridge (Ft. Belvoir), Virginia; four grandchildren, John Stewart of Houston, Texas; Brooks McKinney Castaneda of Houston, Texas; Catherine Ward Messer of Fairchild AFB, Washington; and Michelle Ward of Charlottesville, Virginia (University of Virginia); and two brand new great grandchildren. Pall bearers will be Ray Clayton, his brother-in-law; COL David Ward, his son-in-law; John Stewart, his grandson; Mike Castaneda, his grand son-in-law, and Robert Lee Cayson, his nephew. Visitation will be from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Saturday at Pegues Funeral Home on Jefferson Street. Memorials may be made to Eggville Free Will Baptist Church, 1153 Road 1498, Tupelo, MS 38804.