Services Set for Bill McKinney

Roger Wayne “Bill” McKinney was born on January 18, 1938 in Wetumka, OK and passed away peacefully on May 13, 2019 at his home in Wetumka at the age of 81 with his family present.

He was born to David James and Pauline (Canard) McKinney and attended Wetumka School graduating with the Class of 1956. While in school, Bill participated in FFA and football, playing on the last football team to play on the old field at the old high school. He also worked on his family’s farm.

After a semester at East Central University, Bill decided school wasn’t for him and went to work. He did land surveying for a few years, founded a construction company with his brother, David Jefferson, and then joined Pipeliner’s Union 798, where he got to travel the U.S. and Mexico. He enjoyed the time he got to spend in Colorado (where his daughter, Tina, was born) and Alaska.

Bill enjoyed tending to his gardens, fishing with his grandchildren, and watching Oklahoma football. He was a big fan of any team that gave a good game. He was an avid fan of Professional Bull Riding and loved any time spent with his family. Seeing any of them would make his day. He rejoined his childhood church, Thlopthlocco United Methodist, in 2004. He was a dedicated member and looked forward to his time there every Sunday.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his brother.

Left to cherish his memory are his son, Jason McKinney (and wife, Samantha), and his daughters Tina McKinney of Wetumka, Misti Paxton (and husband, Lonnie) of Tuttle and Julia Moore (and husband, Lonnie) of Arlington, TX, as well as 13 grandchildren: Cody, Caitlin & Simmer Coachman, Seth, Addison, Ethan & Lillie-Beth Paxton, Raevyn & Brady Moore, Aden Ellis, Conner Hendershot, and Mary Jane and Jaden McKinney.

There will be a wake service on Thursday, May 16 at 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be Friday at 2:00 p.m. at the Thlopthlocco United Methodist Church on highway 27 north of Wetumka with Rev. Jim Chalakee, pastor, officiating. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Interment will be in the Canard-McKinney Cemetery under the direction of Williamson-Spradlin Funeral Home of Wetumka.

in lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to the Thlopthlocco United Methodists Church, PO Box 487, Okemah, Ok, 74859.