Marion T. McKinney

Marion T. McKinney, age 73, of Sims, passed away Tuesday, October 13, 2020.

He was born on December 3, 1946 in Cardwell, Missouri, the son of Elbert Velton McKinney and Lillie Lorine “Dink” Vance McKinney. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Teri Tobia McKinney on June 18, 1995; his daughter, Tammy Fryar; his sister, Peggy Jester; and his parents. On October 29, 1997, he was married Barbara Ann McKinney.

Marion was a 1964 graduate of Mount Ida High School and attended Mount Ida First Baptist Church for many years. He was a chicken and cattle farmer, long distance truck driver and enjoyed watching YouTube where he learned to build wood splitters and hay accumulator-grapples. He also made wooden pencil holders that still adorn bank teller windows and doctor’s offices in Mount Ida and Hot Springs. Marion enjoyed sharing his garden produce (when the deer didn’t eat it first) with his neighbors and the ladies of Mount Ida First Baptist Church. He also enjoyed coon hunting and had trained many treeing walkers. During turkey and deer seasons he was wild game hunting and, in the springtime, he fished for white bass and catfish.

Marion is survived by his wife, Barbara McKinney of Sims; his daughter, Jenny McKinney of Mansfield, Texas; his step-daughter, Dana Duff of Mount Ida; his step-son, Eddie “Buddy” Terrell of Davis, Oklahoma; his sister and brother-in-law, Diantha and Baxter Towery of Rockmart, Georgia; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at 10:00 AM, Saturday, October 17, 2020, in the Mount Ida First Baptist Church Family Life Center with Pastor Bill Ashburn officiating.

Visitation will be held Saturday, 9:00 AM until service time at the church.

Social distancing directives will be in place with no more than 66% of the total seating capacity occupied at the church, avoidance of physical contact and all attendees 10 years of age or older must be wearing a face covering at all times during the service.

Interment will be in Rocky Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Davis-Smith Funeral Home, Glenwood.

Pallbearers will be Jerry Summitt, David James, Charlie Jones, Darrell Henry, Jimmy Fryar and Dale Summitt.

Honorary pallbearers will be Rich Dassow, Michael Summitt, the Ambassadors Sunday School class and the doctors and staff of the Intensive Care Unit at National Park Medical Center.

Guest registry is at www.davis-smith.com.