Billy John McKinney

Billy John McKinney, 91, a retired machinist and accountant of Sherman, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011. Arrangements are under the direction of Dannel Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Aug. 30 at 2 p.m. in the Dannel chapel. Interment with Navy honors will follow at Cedarlawn Memorial Park. William D. Tate of Grapevine will officiate, assisted by Sirus Browning representing the U.S. Navy Veterans Chapter. The family will be at the funeral home on Monday, Aug. 29, 6-7 p.m.

Bill was born in Southmayd on May 5, 1920 to E.Y. and Johnnie (Riley) McKinney. He was educated in the public schools, graduating from Sherman High School in 1938.

When Bill graduated from high school, he could never have imagined what experiences the next seven years would bring. He took a job at Gus Turley's grocery and learned the butcher's trade. He went on to open his own store at the corner of Willow and Grand Ave. in Sherman. When he married Ozelle Young on Nov. 3, 1940 in Sherman, they lived in a small apartment attached to the store. Since the store was not making enough money, Bill soon joined his father in working at the Frisco Shops, starting as an apprentice machinist. Bill's father had served in the U.S. Navy during World War I, and filled his boys with a love for the naval service. A few months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Bill took a draft classification physical, and the doctor suggested that he join the Navy before being drafted into the Army. He took the oath in the Sherman post office and set off for boot camp in San Diego. He became a machinist mate and was posted to the USS Prometheus, a repair ship. He was also trained as a diver. They were assigned to work at Pearl Harbor for six months to repair damaged vessels.

New Caledonia was the next post, where the Prometheus remained until Spring 1944 doing repairs on U.S Navy ships. Bill was then sent to sheet metal school and assigned to join the commissioning crew of the USS Wren in Seattle, Wash. The Wren was one of the destroyers that made up the advanced radar picket line to warn and. protect the U.S. Navy Fleet off Okinawa in the spring of 1945.

Three days after the Japanese surrendered on Aug. 15, 1945, the Wren led a group of six U.S. submarines into Tokyo Bay. When the Wren sailed for home, Bill was only a few days short of enough time for a occupation medal.

Ozelle McKinney had been in San Francisco since 1943, so after a short reunion there, the couple headed back to Texas. bill's life after World War II was almost as adventurous as his life at sea, although in a more domestic way. He went back to work for the railroad, but after several years was laid off. Then he decided to go to college. In 1950, he entered Austin College under the GI Bill, and in two years completed a four-year degree in chemistry and mathematics. In 2002. he was named a Golden 'Roo, in celebration of 50 years as an alumnus.

Bill's work experience included 10 years as an engineer with Line Material in Sherman, two stints with Texas Instruments, and when that ended, he and his wife opened an accounting firm. McKinney stayed in the naval reserve, and he enjoyed having a connection to the WWII experience he had enjoyed so much. He retired from the reserve with 19 years of service.

Bill was one of the founders of the US Navy Veterans Chapter in Sherman and a "plank" member of that organization. He also belonged to the Hella Shrine Temple and the Travis Lodge 117 AF/AM.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Ozelle, who died July 25, 1990, just 3 months before their 50th wedding anniversary. He is survived by a son Mike McKinney and wife Judy of Plano; two grandchildren Beth Ann McKinney Montez and husband Chris of Plano, and Britt McKinney and wife Keri of Prosper. The first great-grandchild is on the way.

Pallbearers will be Jim Melton, Jeffrey Melton, Britt McKinney, Chris Montez, Albert Nabors, and John Weimer. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the U.S. Navy Veterans Club of Sherman.

Memorials may be made to the donor's favorite charity.

You my sign the online guest book at www.dannelfuneralhome.com.