Freestone County, Texas Obituaries Fairfield Recorder - August 27, 2009 Avery McKinney Avery McKinney of Mexia (Cotton Gin) died Aug. 24 at Manor Health Care Residence in Mexia. Funeral will be Friday, Aug. 28 at 10 a.m. at Porter Funeral Home in Mexia. Interment will be at Cotton Gin Cemetery. Mr. McKinney is survived by his wife Patsy J. McKinney, sons Avery Edsel McKinney of LaVerne, Cal. and Lynn Clay McKinney of Waco, daughter Nancy Barrow of Mexia, 11 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. ============================================ Fairfield Recorder - September 3, 2009 Avery Clay McKinney Funeral services were held last Friday for Avery Clay McKinney, 96, who died Aug. 24 at Manor Healthcare Residence. Rev. Jeff Powers officiated at the service, held at Porter Funeral Home Chapel in Mexia. Interment was at Cotton Gin Cemetery. Mr. McKinney lived most of his life in the Cotton Gin area, also living seven years in Fairfield. He was born Oct. 3, 1912, to Henry Clay and Magdalene Berthelsen McKinney. He was a master carpenter, noted area contractor and later, owner of Avery's Peach Orchard. He also compiled family genealogy for some 45 years. He loved hunting, fishing, trapping, gardening and woodworking. A carpenter from the age of seven, Mr. McKinney became a farmer of cotton and corn from his late youth through World War II, and contracted homes in the Mexia area from 1950 through 1974. He built his last home for himself and his wife Virginia in 1987 at the age of 75. He married Virginia Hearon of Cotton Gin on Jan.12, 1935. A Baptist for most of his life, Mr. McKinney most recently became a member of First Baptist Church of Teague. He was married to Patsy J. Willard on Nov. 20, 2000. Mr. McKinney was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 59 years, Virginia McKinney, brothers Andrew John McKinney and Leon Enovol McKinney and by twin infant brothers. Survivors are Patsy J. McKinney, son Avery Edsel McKinney and wife Mary Ann of LaVerne Cal., son Lynn Clay McKinney and wife Debbie of Waco, daughter Nancy Virginia Barrow and husband Joe of Cotton Gin; Grandchildren Julie Eve Denman and husband Tim of Lake Jackson, Michael Wayne McKinney and wife Margaret of Spring, Mark Alan McKinney and wife Linda of Bangkok, Thailand, Lori Ann Young and husband Ken of Upland, Cal., Joseph Jon McKinney and wife Luann of Hesperia, Cal., Sheri Lynn Fieseler and husband Paul of Sierra Madre, Cal., Tonya Velynn Rodriguez and husband Marcos of Waco, Avery Edward McKinney and wife Leslie of Robinson, Matthew Seder McKinney, Nicholas Clay McKinney and Christina Elizabeth McKinney, all of Waco; Great-grandchildren Tyler Davis Denman, Matthew Ryan McKinney, Samantha Erin McKinney, John Michael McKinney, Brandon Alan McKinney, Justin Alan McKinney, Arianna Michelle McKinney, Zachary Jacob Young, Curtis Jacob Young, Benjamin Jacob Young, Cameron Joseph McKinney; Flint Patrick Fieseler, Marcos Novelo Rodriguez, Ashlye Yvonne Rodriguez, Elijah Joaquin Rodriguez, Johnathan Lucas Morton and Ty Avery McKinney; three great-great- grandchildren Marcos Novelo Rodriguez III, Marlaina Gizielle Rodriguez and Nattalie Brianna Rodriguez. Also surviving is Mr. McKinney's sister Pauline Katherine Keys of Cotton Gin, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Pallbearers were Michael Wayne McKinney, Joseph Jon McKinney, Avery Edward McKinney, Matthew Seder McKinney, Nicholas Clay McKinney and Larry Enovol McKinney. Honorary pallbearers were Joe Barrow, Albert Hall, Gary McKinney, Mark McKinney, Zeno King and Joe Swincki.