Grace LaVerne McKinney

1928 - 2023

June 15, 1928 - November 15, 2023

Grace LaVerne McKinney (95) passed into the loving arms of her Lord Jesus Christ on November 15, 2023 in Lake Placid, Florida. The daughter of Verne Luce Meacham and Ruby Electa Randall, Grace was born on a dairy farm near Pensacola. She had two older brothers (Randall and Alonzo) and an older sister (Bernice). After her mother's untimely death, her father married Darlene Agnes Thomas, and they had two children, a daughter (Anita) and a son (Charles).

Grace moved several times during her early years as her dad pursued his work as a dairy farmer. She graduated in 1946 from Sebring McKinley High School, Ohio, where she finished second in her class academically. She then moved with her family to Beaver, Pennsylvania. She returned to Ohio and was married and had three sons (Robert, Lawrence, and William). She also raised a stepdaughter, Bertie. The next ten years were very busy raising four children. Life circumstances compelled her to leave Ohio in 1957 and move to Florida.

Grace went to work at Chemstrand in Pensacola and then, in 1958, her life changed. She met Frank McKinney - who soon became the love of her life. Frank fell in love with Grace and her three boys. They married in 1959 and the following year had a son (David). In 1961, Grace and Frank and their four sons moved to Milton, Florida, where they would live and thrive until Frank's passing in 1996. Grace would often claim that those 35 years were the best, most vital years of her life. Her four boys were all active in Boy Scouts, Little League, school activities (like band and sports) and Grace was there through it all. Strong believers in higher education, through Grace and Frank's sacrifices and support, all four of her sons graduated from Pensacola Junior College and the University of Florida. She worked for Chemstrand (later Monsanto), for Ferris Hill Baptist Church, for William Watson, MD for many years, and finally for Warr & Forrester Bookkeeping & Tax Service. In the last chapter of her life, she moved several times in the State of Florida to be near and connected with family.

Grace is preceded in death by her husband, Frank McKinney; her parents, Verne and Ruby Meacham; her son, Robert Kibler; her stepdaughter, Bertie Kibler; her brothers, Randall and Alonzo Meacham; and her sisters, Bernice Hunter and Anita Warr.

Grace is survived by her brother, Charles (Geraldine) Meacham; her sons Lawrence (Terrie) Kibler, Bill (Pam) Kibler, and David (Terri) McKinney. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

There will be graveside service at Serenity Gardens in Milton, Florida on January 20, 2024 at 10:30 a.m.

Special thanks to Balmoral Assisted Living, Good Shepherd Hospice, and Scott Funeral Home in Lake Placid, Florida.



In lieu of flowers, please send your love and prayers.

Grace LaVerne McKinney