Winifred Loyal Mckinney

Winifred Loyal McKinney, 83, of Rockford, Illinois passed away Sunday, March 6, 2022. Winifred was born on January 22, 1939, in Corning, Arkansas to the late Roy McKinney and Helen (Hinkle) McKinney Carter. His father later remarried his step mother Dove (Bush) Raney McKinney. Winifred grew up on the farm in Missouri before moving to Rockford, IL in 1958. In 1960 he got married and had 3 children, Carol, Bruce, and David. Winifred worked as a cabinet maker until he started a family operated well drilling business, McKinney Brothers in 1965. He owned and operated McKinney Brothers until 1986 when he unfortunately got injured prompting him to sell his business and retire early. Winifred loved the outdoors, camping, fishing, gardening, and hunting. A couple times a year he would take his children camping, and it would always be along a river so they could fish as well. Winifred’s favorite fish to catch was catfish. He would run catfish lines out on the river. He loved to grow his own garden and would can everything he could from it. Winifred loved listening to his baseball games on the radio. Being raised in Missouri and living in Illinois his two favorite teams were the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs, it would be extra special when they would play each other. Winifred loved listening to the Chicago radio station talk shows, such as Mr. Fix It, during the day and the “old time stories “late at night. They reminded him of the stories he would listen to as a kid on the radio.
Winifred is survived by his daughter, Carol Rountree; sons Bruce & David McKinney; siblings Vanetta Hairston & Louise Swinford ; step siblings, Noma (Raney) Barton, Sloan Raney, Sherman (Cheryl) Raney, 7 grandchildren; Bruce Jr., Jimmy, Corey, Brandin, Jessica , Marilyn & Macey; 5 great-grandchildren ; and numerous relatives and friends. Preceded in death by his parents; step mother Dove, Siblings; Howard McKinney, Melvin McKinney, Larry McKinney, Yvonne Carter , Janet Beeler, Lelia Seratt, Minnie Bechtel and step sister Lena (Raney) Keenzel. There will be a memorial service in Doniphan, Missouri at a later date.
Arrangements entrusted to Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, 1860 South Mulford Road, Rockford, IL 61103. Share online condolences and memories at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.