Ray McKinney Sr.

McKINNEY, Ray Sr., 90, of Tappahannock, died Thursday, July 9, 2009 at his residence. He was born on June 19, 1919 in Cumnor, King & Queen County, son of the late John Wesley McKinney and Bettie Hugh Crowe McKinney. He was a lifelong member of Smyrna Christian Church where he also served as an elder, and was an associate member of Bethany United Methodist Church, West Jefferson, N.C. Ray attended Virginia Tech and was a wood dealer for Chesapeake Corporation. Following his retirement, he and his wife, Lucy (who preceded him in death in 2001), owned and operated Sleigh Bells Antiques in Tappahannock. Ray was an avid horse lover. He is survived by his wife, Alda Perkins McKinney; his son, Ray McKinney Jr. and daughter-in-law, Landon Morris McKinney of Raleigh, N.C.; his sister and brother-in- law, Bettie and Roland Geddes of Tappahannock; his brother and sister-in-law, Edward and Jacqueline McKinney of Warsaw; his grandson, John Wesley McKinney III and wife, Beth Durham McKinney, of Caret; his granddaughter, Landon McKinney Smith and husband, William, of Raleigh; four great-grandchildren and two great-great-granddaughters. Funeral services will be held 3 p.m. Sunday, July 12, 2009 in Smyrna Christian Church, Bruington. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Marks-Bristow Funeral Home, Tappahannock. Memorial contributions may be made to Smyrna Christian Church, 3655 Powcan Road, Bruington, Va. 23023-4143, or Bethany United Methodist Church, 495 N.C. Highway 194 S, West Jefferson, N.C. 28694-9110.
This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.