Marcus R.McKinney

Funeral services will be 2:00 PM, Thursday, January 24, 2007, at the Wieland Church of Christ under the directon of Coker-Mathews Funeral Home.  Randy Daw and John Lawrence will officiate.  Military graveside service will be held at Wieland Cemetery.

Surviving are his wife, Ouida McKinney of Greenville; a son, Tim McKinney and wife Susan of Sulphur Springs; daughters, Kathy Sandlin and husband Lenon of Greenville and Kelley Nowlin and husband Rick of Greenville; grandchildren, Andi Wooten and husband Frank, Aaron Sandlin and wife Robin, Marc McKinney and wife Pam, Melissa McClure and husband Cale, Marci Campbell and husband Tim, Chad Nowlin and Michael McKinney; great-grandchildren, Alyssa and Alexis Busby, Riley Campbell, Laynie McKinney, Hannah and Ava Sandlin and Hannah Wooten; nieces, Sue Marr of Georgetown, Elaine Stoermer of League City, Charlotte Johnson of Elk City and Karla Ryba of Greenville; brother-in-law, Farrell Nalls and wife Charlotte of Greenville. 

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Terry McKinney in 1996, infant grandson, Matthew McKinney, infant granddaughter, Melanie McKinney, nephews, Kenneth and James McKinney and Kyle Nalls; sisters Margie Fulton and Marie Newell; brother Milton McKinney.

Marcus was a member of the church of Christ for 44 years, 14 of which he served as an elder, always putting God first.  The most important thing he taught his family was to serve God, always being ready to meet the Lord, just as he was.

He spent 21 years in the Air Force, retiring in 1964.  While in the Air Force, he was a B-26 bomber pilot during WWII in the European Theater, under the command of General Dwight D. Eisenhower.  A decorated war veteran, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal, The Presidential Unit Citation and the European Theater of War with Three Battle Stars.  While in the service, he attended Texas A & M and Arkansas State Universities.  He held the rank of Captain in the Air Force Reserve for ten years, retiring in his active duty rank of First Lieutenant.  After the war, he ran a flying school at the little air strip on Highway 69 South. 

He was a member of the Retired Officers association and the B-26 Marauder Historical Society.  Marcus was an avid golfer for many years, teaching his children, sons-in-law and grandchildren how to play, and although legally blind, he could out-score them all!

Serving as pallbearers will be his grandsons, Aaron Sandlin, Marc McKinney, Michael McKinney, Chad Nowlin, Tim Campbell and Frank Wooten.  Honorary pallbearers will be Taylor McGee, Dr. James Nicholson, Steve Swiger, Clyde Terry , Richard Hogue and Elmer Ellis..

Visitation will be Wednesday, January 23, 2008, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the funeral home.