Miss Lena Ruth McKinney, 78, of Ivy Hall Nursing Home, Elizabethton, formerly a resident of Courtyard Apartments, Elizabethton, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, December 11, 2011, at Sycamore Shoals Hospital following an extended illness.
She was a daughter of the late Merritt and Cinda Hyder McKinney and was born in Carter County on August 19, 1933. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Virginia Berry and Naomi McKinney, and three brothers, Ethan McKinney, Hoover McKinney and Ben McKinney.
Miss McKinney retired from North American Rayon Corporation. She was a member of Oak Hill Free Will Baptist Church and attended Eastside Free Will Baptist Church.
Miss McKinney is survived by a son, Gary McKinney, Elizabethton; a granddaughter; two sisters, Pauline Little Hoilman, Johnson City, and Edith Sutton, Newport News, Va.; three sisters-in-law, Joann McKinney, Marlene McKinney and Susie McKinney, all of Elizabethton; and a special niece, Pat Burrow, Elizabethton. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
The funeral service for Miss McKinney will be conducted at 7 p.m. Tuesday, December 13, in the Chapel of Peace of Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, with Rev. Jack Lloyd and Rev. Nathan Jennings officiating. The family will receive friends in the funeral chapel from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, prior to the service. Friends may also call at the home of a niece. The committal and entombment service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, December 14, in the Mausoleum of Peace at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Everyone will meet at Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday to go in procession to the cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Dennis Berry, Larry McKinney, Mike McKinney, David McKinney, Tim McKinney and Larry Burrow. Honorary pallbearers will be Tom McKinney, Bruce McKinney, Bryce McKinney, Chris McKinney, Kenneth McKinney, Keith Sutton and Richard Sutton. The family would like to express special thanks to Judy Deloach and the staff of Ivy Hall Nursing Home for their love and care for Miss McKinney. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tetrickfuneralhome.com and signing the guestbook or by fax to (423) 542-9499.
Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is serving the McKinney family. Office: (423) 542-2232. Obituary Line: (423) 543-4917.
