Vivian Grace Andrews Mckinney's Obituary
Vivian Grace Andrews McKinney, 85, went to be with her Heavenly Father on Saturday, June 20, 2015. Grace was born to Florence Tee Adams and Ewell Marvin Andrews in rural Center, Texas, in Shelby County, on January 27, 1930 - less than 2 pounds but with a will to survive. She married Henry McKinney, Jr., on June 14, 1947, in Longview, Texas, at Center Point Church, which became Greggton United Methodist Church. She loved school, where she truly spent most of her life. She graduated from Pine Tree High School, Longview, Texas, in 1948. She raised her four children in PTISD. In 1966, she went to work as an office aide and later as a secretary and receptionist in the Administration Office, culminating with over 30 years spent with her other ‘family’ as she felt about the students, teachers, and parents. One of her joys was sponsoring her many exchange students and later visiting them in their home countries through her many travels. She cherished her grandchildren and had fond memories of taking each one on a senior trip.
Grace spent her life serving the Longview community. She has been a member of Greggton United Methodist Church her entire adult life, serving as secretary of the Administration Board, Sec-Treas of the Agape Class, organizational president of the Senior Singles group, and she taught Sunday School in the children’s division for more than 40 years. She was a Cub Scout leader, a Camp Fire leader, a member and Past Matron of the PT Chapter 1090, Order of the Eastern Star, and the first woman president of Greggton Noon Lions Club. She was a 1993 graduate of Leadership Longview, in 1992, received the Community Builder’s Award from the Pine Tree Masonic Lodge, and was named Outstanding PT Alumni in 1994. Grace was a member of numerous professional organizations, on the Longview Repertory Opera Company board and a supporter of the Longview Symphony Orchestra. She moved to the Buckner retirement community in 2007, enjoying the activities and fellowship with many old and new friends.
Grace was preceded in death by her husband, the Honorable Judge Henry McKinney, Jr., her parents, siblings Vassie, Louise, Azirue, Clara, Herbert, and Hanson, granddaughter Erin Jenkins and great-grandson Chance Neff; she is survived by her four children, Margaret and Jack Jenkins, Thomas and Becky McKinney, Martha and Joe Ylitalo, and Doug and Rhonda McKinney; by her grandchildren Jenny Jenkins West, Jake Jenkins, Jessica Jenkins Ramos, Nick McKinney, Kelly McKinney Neff, Gwen McKinney Modisette, Amanda Ylitalo, Chris Ylitalo, Emily Ylitalo Gaston, Liz Ylitalo Eckert, Meredith Ylitalo Rodriguez, Elyse McKinney, Reese McKinney and 28 great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be grandsons Jake Jenkins, Caleb Ramos, Nick McKinney, Robin Neff, Grant Gaston and Reese McKinney. Honorary pallbearers will be numerous grandsons, nephews and family friends.
Memorials may be made to Greggton United Methodist Church Building Fund and The East Texas Angel Network.
Funeral services will be 2pm, Tuesday June 23, 2015 at Greggton United Methodist Church on Longview. Interment will follow services at Lakeview Memorial Gardens. There will be a time of visitation from 5pm-8pm Today, Monday June 22, 2015 at Rader Funeral Home in Longview.
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