Mary H. McKinney

Surrounded by her children and her brother, our sweet mother, Mary Helen McKinney passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 16 2023 at Fransican Health Indianapolis. Though known as “Murph” to her husband of 57 years, or “Mary Helen” or “Mary” to friends and family, her favorite names by far were simply “Mom” or “Mammaw Murph”. Born September 1, 1942 in Winslow, Indiana, Mary was the oldest child of Forrest and Mabel Thomas. Her brother Barry Thomas was born a few years later and was loved by his big sister until she left this Earth. On March 3, 1962, Mary Helen Thomas became Mary McKinney when she married the love of her life, Gary L. Mckinney of Lynnville, Indiana. They moved to Columbus, Indiana where over the next few decades, they raised their four children in a house full of love and laughter. We could not have asked for two better parents and are so thankful for the example they set for us in good times and bad. Mary briefly taught kindergarten, but spent most of her life as a homemaker, devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. As we grew up and moved on with our own lives, Mom and Dad discovered their love of Mackinac Island and traveled to Michigan often until Dad passed away in 2017. Mom also enjoyed listening to music (attending her first Oak Ridge Boys Concert in her 60’s) doll collecting, crafting (especially crocheting baby blankets), reading, and working puzzles. By far, her favorite thing to do was to spoil her 9 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. They all especially loved her famous macaroni and cheese, and even though we have the recipe, it will never taste the same. She was so excited about meeting her 8th great-granddaughter in July, and attending the weddings of 3 grandchildren in the upcoming months. We are shocked and saddened by her unexpected passing, but we are comforted knowing that she was welcomed with open arms in Heaven by our dad, Gary, her parents, Forrest and Mabel, and grandbabies and great-grandbabies that earned their wings before they were born. Missing her terribly are her children, Teresa (Bruce) Bay, Tammy (Lonnie) Broughton, Shawn (Amy) McKinney, and Melissa (Todd) Streeval. She left quite a legacy for grandchildren Andrew (Lindsey) Bay, Chris (Brittany) Bay, Josh (Ashley) Broughton, Jacob (Kelley) Broughton, Spencer (Larisa) McKinney, Haley (Sam) McKinney-Woolwine, Mallory McKinney, Justin (Destiny) Streeval, and Marah Streeval. Great-grandchildren include McKenna Bay, Elijah Bay, Audrey Broughton, Olivia McKinney, Dale McKinney, Greyson Patton, and Colton Woolwine, In keeping with her wishes, Visiting will be at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home with the funeral following at 1 pm. Mom will be buried next to Dad at Garland Brook Cemetery. We will miss her laughter, playful spirit, feisty attitude, and loving heart, but are so thankful to have had her in our lives as long as we did. We see pieces of her in all of us and she’ll live on forever in our memories. Memorial contributions may be made to American Diabetes Association or Bulldog Pantry in Columbus, IN.