Services for L Ray McKinney, 85, of Hughes Springs, will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 27, 2017 at First Baptist Church in Hughes Springs with Bro. Tommy Estes officiating. Burial will follow at Hughes Springs Cemetery under the direction of Reeder-Davis Funeral Home in Hughes Springs. There will be a time of visitation from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home.
L Ray was born January 4, 1932 to DJ and Maudie McKinney. On June 13, 1954 L Ray married the love of his life Betty Abernathy, also known to L Ray as “My Betty” and “Betsy”. They recently celebrated their 63rd anniversary. He was always telling her how beautiful and precious she was to him. His greatest joy was his family, and he passed away peacefully surrounded by them. He worked with his father on the fair route until he joined the Navy. He served in the Navy for 4 years during the Korean War on the Aircraft Carrier USS Kearsarge. After the Navy, he attended the University of Texas in Austin. In 1978 he founded Corn Dog 7 and built the business, to a one time high, of over 100 stores across the Mid West and South East United States. He was a member of First Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon, and a greeter for 23 years. He loved his church family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters: Berniece Fickling, and Margie Westmoreland; and son-in-law, Mike Wellborn.
He is survived by his wife, Betty McKinney; children: Stephen McKinney and wife Jenny, Brenda Sellers and husband Greg, Elizabeth Meyer and husband Danny, Greg McKinney and wife Mary, and Jeff McKinney and wife Janie; brother, Billy Wayne McKinney and wife Linda; brothers-in-law, Hank Fickling, and Howard Abernathy and wife Helen; sisters-in-law, Maybell Bailey and husband Jack, Mary Black and husband Henry, and Bonnie Parvino and husband Marvin; grandchildren: Chris McKinney and wife Keisha, Kurt McKinney and wife Ashley, Jarrod McKinney and wife Brittany, Brent Sellers, Cara Carrington and husband Kevin, Julie Glass and husband Casey, Blake McKinney, Ryan McKinney and wife Mariah, Clay McKinney and wife Emily, Sean Sellers, Chad McKinney, and Luke Meyer; great grandchildren: Hunter, Kate, Lucas, Emerie, Rylan McKinney and baby Carrington; numerous nieces and nephews.
Gene and Lou Brown are sorry for your loss. God is good and knows when it is time to call us home. You have been blessed with your loved one.
So sorry for your loss
We are so sorry about the passing of Mr L Ray.. He was such a wonderful sweet man .. All the family and friends are in our thoughts and prayers.
My sincere sympathy to you and all the family
Mr. L Ray was one of the finest people that Becky and I have ever known. I heard a preacher say one time that when a person is a Christian that they don’t have to go around telling everyone because everyone knows without being told. Mr. L Ray was truly one of those kind of folks. Every time you saw him, you knew that he was a true Christian. We love him and Mrs. Betty so much and he will be missed more than I could ever explain. Randy and Becky Dean
Our deepest and sincere sympathies in the loss of your wonderful man. We were honored to meet him at Liz and Danny’s wedding. May your memories become your most precious treasures. Much love. Curtis and Paula Cole
A Great Man who was loved by all. We were honored and blessed to have known him. God Bless!
My family always loved L Ray so much. They were our neighbors and friends. God Bless their family. Prayers for all. Nan Traylor Saucier
May God comfort you in your time of loss.
Our deepest sympathy and condolences to you Ms. Betty, Stephen, Elizabeth, Brenda, Jeff and Greg. Mr. L Ray has been a part of our lives for the past 30 plus years. From the first day I walked through the doors of First Baptist Church and was greeted by this tall man with the most wonderful smile on his face and made to feel like I had walked into the doors of home. Both of us and our three children will remember the different impacts he had on our lives and will miss him greatly. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers in the days ahead. The Pitts Family
Jeff and Family, We are deeply saddened to hear of this news. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
I am so sorry for your loss
Sorry about you DAD Praying for the Family
so sorry for your loss I am here if you need me and I got yall in my prayers
A good man who treated all with respect and dignity. He will be missed by all those who ever came in contact with him. God has truly blessed L Ray on this earth and his relationships show it. He is now on another part of his life’s journey…not of this world, but he will still be working for our Lord. God Bless.
My prayers are with his family. So sorry to hear of your loss.
My love to you all.
May the Lord Bless and Protect your family using this time of your loss.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all! Mr. L.Ray was one of the kindest men I have ever had the privilege of meeting. My heart aches for your loss!! God Bless you and give you comfort.
Betty and family, I am so sorry to hear that L Ray had passed away. Y’all have been such an internal part of our lives go such a long time. We love you dearly. Clinton, Niki and kids
Prayers & hugs for you all. He was one of the sweetest souls I had the pleasure of knowing.
Mr.LRay was very special to our family. His big bear hugs made you feel good inside! He will be missed but today he’s looking into Jesus’s loving eyes!
Betty and children, I am truly sorry. I always had a crush on L Ray and Henry when a was a girl. Living across the street from Uncle Frank and Aunt Tiny, I was always so happy when they came. L Ray walkways had a hug for me and others. Always smiling. Sorry, I won’t be there since I am out of the state. May God hold each of you in His arms.
I’m so very sorry for your loss. LRay was such a kind, thoughtful man.
I am so sorry to the family for the loss of this great man.
so sorry for your loss…he was a good man. prayers for the family
Our prayers are with your family.
So sorry Bill and Linda.
So very sorry for your loss! I loved Mr. L Ray, he was always so sweet to me and gave me a hug every time I saw him! His smile would light up the room! Prayers for the whole McKinney family during this difficult time!
So very sorry to learn of the passing of L Ray McKinney our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
So sorry to hear of your loss. He was a delightful man who obviously loved the Lord and his family. What a generous, hospitable, and kind soul he was here on this earth. Heaven has welcomed a treasure of a man.
Some of my fondest memories of church growing up will always be Mr. L Ray. Prayers for all the family and loved ones.
So sorry for your loss. A true patriarch of a family is my memory of LRay. I pray for your peace in the days ahead. You were all like my second family for 20 years and I feel your pain. Much love to you all and Gods grace be to you. Joyce
I was so sorry to here of your families loss of a great man. I will always remember Uncle L. for his wonderful smile. Love to you all and sorry I was unable to visit with you during this time of grief but my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Our Prayers for all the Family .. He is a sweet & great man , will be missed . Love to the Family ..
I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you and your family. Sincerely, Toni
Brenda and all family members, I have you all in my thoughts and prayers. It is not an easy time, and no one is ready to say good bye to a loved family member. I feel deeply for all of you. I will be at the funeral tomorrow. Sincerely, Judy
Our sympathy and prayers to the McKinney Family. So glad we got to know him. He has left a great legacy for others to follow. Love the McKinney family. Emily’s (and Clay’s) Nan and Papa
Christian sympathy to the McKinney Family ; sending prayers and comfort at this time.
McKinney Family. Barbara and I want to send our condolences to all of you. I regret that we cannot attend, as Barbara in in a Rehab Hospital. She broke both her femurs march 13th and just got weight bearing on her right leg last week. We love you guys and I want all of you to give your mom a hug from us. If it wasn’t for our circumstances , we would absolutely be there. We will be there in Spirit for all of you. GOD BLESS YOU ALL. WILBER AND BARBARA KEVIL
You will be dearly missed .. Thank you for being such a kind man , you and your family are in our Prayers .. we love each of you dearly .. God Bless
Condolences are sent to your family for this great loss. What a heritage from such a great family man. Rock & Sheri Spraggins
My thoughts and prayers go to the family. Mrs. Betty, you hold a special place in my heart. Mr. McKinney, was such a special man and always brightened my day.
I am very sorry to hear of Mr. L Ray’s passing. I remember many times at the Mustangs games with my good friend, Clint Moore, hearing "Come on Chad Allen" and many other similar things from Mr. L Ray. I have always known the McKinneys to be very welcoming and gracious, and very family oriented. I know that this is a tough time and I pray for peace and comfort as you grieve. All my best, Brian
When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure. With heart felt sympathy Dr. Willis and Staff
We are saddened to learn of L. Ray’s passing. Many fond memories of a wonderful man and his family. Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with Betty and the entire family. Neil & Barbara McKinney
He will be so missed.. I remember as a kid when he would come in to my grandmother cafe ""city cafe "" and sit and have coffee. With all the other coffee drinker.always had a mind word. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
We are in Colorado, and we are so sorry not to be with L. Ray’s family during this sad time! We loved L.Ray as well as Betty and all of his kin.
We care about the McKinney Family. Y’all were the first people we met when we moved to Hughes Springs. Our daughter was friends with Julie, Cara and Jarrod and Elizabeth & Mike were our sweet neighbors. Stephen & Jenny lived right across the lake and it felt like one big, happy family. The kids swimming off their pier and just loving life. I remember one Sunday after church ElRay inviting me, Brett and Callie out to his house to eat with his clan. He was a rock; in his faith, his family and his community. We will never forget him.
So sorry to hear of L Ray’s passing. We know you’re comforted in the assurance that you’ll see him again one day and "that will be a glad reunion day." Much love…
So sorry for you loss Billy Wayne & Linda. Prayers for you and your family.
Sorry about your Dad Jeff
What a special family they all were.
Always in my memories.