Created August 27, 2018
In Memory
This eternal flame burns forever
in remembrance of Morris Harvey McKinnon
Morris Harvey McKinnon
March 17, 1933 - April 6, 2021
Morris Harvey McKinnon, age 88, of
Parkers Chapel passed from this life
on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, at his residence, following a
brief illness. He
was born on March 17, 1933 at the Shiloh Community near
Three Creeks,
AR to Harvey Gratis McKinnon and Lettie
Grace Lewis McKinnon.
Morris spent his early years in tents at
schools and sawmills where his
father taught and worked in the commissary.
The family moved to Wesson
Road when he was 6, and he began school
at Parkers Chapel School.
Upon graduation Morris attended college
at Southern State College (now
Southern Arkansas University) before
being drafted by Uncle Sam.
After
serving two years in the United States Army
during the Korean War, he
resumed his college education and married Mary
Margaret Ledbetter on
September 2, 1955. He went on to
graduate with a bachelor's degree in
Physical Education and began coaching at
Mount Holly Schools. He
continued his education at the University of
Arkansas working on his
Masters and began his position as Superintendent
of Mount Holly
Schools for 28 years. As a small school superintendent Morris
did
everything from driving buses, cleaning and waxing
floors, fixing walk-in
freezers, to supervising a wonderful staff that
worked together to educate
the young people of the community. After leaving Mt.
Holly Morris returned
to Parkers Chapel Schools as a teacher/coach where he
taught math,
drove a bus, and coached baseball before
retiring.
Morris was a member of Pleasant Grove
United Methodist Church and
served as the President of the Curtis Grove
and Pleasant Grove Cemetery
Associations. He also was part of the church group
who sang twice a
month at local nursing homes. He was a member
of the Derrick City
Sam's Camping Club and served with Mary
as camp hosts at Lake
Catherine State Park for 30 years. Morris currently served on the
Newell/Wesson Water Association where he
served as President for
several years. He was also a Master Mason in
The Grand Lodge of
Arkansas, F & A.M. Mt Moriah #18.
He is preceded in death by his parents,
his wife of 65 years, Mary
Margaret Ledbetter McKinnon; sister Betty Sue McKinnon Carter; brothers
Thomas McKinnon, Bruce McKinnon, and Bob
McKinnon; grandson,
Matthew Reaves; son-in-law Mike Reaves;
grandson-in-law Josh Koon;
and sister-in-law Bobbie Ledbetter.
Those left to cherish his memory include
daughters Kathy Reaves of
Parkers Chapel and Rhonda Swilley
(Tracy) of Parkers Chapel; sons
Randall McKinnon (Cathy) of Fairplay, CO, and Steve McKinnon (Regina)
of Farmerville, LA; grandchildren Dianna Swilley, Chris
Reaves, Amanda
Brown (Harvey), Kimberly McKinnon and Koby McKinnon; great-
grandchildren Addalyn and
Emma Adams, Karley and Wesson Koon,
Dallas and Graeham
Malone, and Owen and Mia Brown; sister Billie Jean
Loftin of Shreveport, LA, brothers Jerry
McKinnon (Sue) of Shreveport,
LA, and Danny McKinnon (Lynn) of Shreveport, LA;
sisters-in-law Frances
McKinnon of Fayetteville, AR; Martha
Thomas of Eureka Springs, AR;
Dorothy Bayne of Longview, TX; Elizabeth
Collins (Clay) of Hope, AR and
brother-in-law Tommy Ledbetter of Eureka Springs, AR;
a special nephew
Larry Carter and wife Carolyn; and many
nieces and nephews along with
friends.
Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until
7:00 pm on Thursday, April 8, 2021 at
Bailey Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00
am on Friday, April 9, 2021 at
Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church,
with Bro, Tracy Roden
officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant Grove
Cemetery under the
direction of Bailey Funeral Home.
Honorary Pallbearers will be both
current and past members of the Derrick
City Sam's Camping Club; fellow faculty
of Mount Holly and Parkers
Chapel Schools and former students.
The Family wish
to thank the staff of Johnny B's Diner for their many years
of love and service to Mary & Morris McKinnon.
Memorials can be made to the Pleasant
Grove Cemetery or Curtis Grove
Cemetery care of Rhonda Swilley, 6707
Wesson Road, Junction City, AR
71749.
Though He's gone, He is not forgotten.
Though absent, He remains in spirit.
Though once a worker, He now rests.
by The Arkansas Good Sams
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