Eugene Joseph McKinney

Eugene (Gene) McKinney went to be with Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on October 28, 2023.  He is survived by his wife, Dayna McKinney and children Craig McKinney, Stephen McKinney and Shannon Clendenen (Jim Clendenen), step children Russell Cowan and Melissa Brown, grandchildren Audrey Pardue, Rush Clendenen, C.J. Vasquez, Alyssa Vasquez, Courtney Brown, Michael Brown, Rebecca Cowan and Rachael Cowan, Sisters Pauline Greene (Rod), Jane Mulvey and brothers Henry McKinney and Alfred McKinney (Lisa) and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Owen and Kathleen McKinney, his sisters Kathleen Siebert and Eileen Oconefsky.

Gene, originally from the Bronx, NY, made his home of 32 years in Cornelius on the shores of Lake Norman.  He had a special place in his heart for the U.S. Marine Corps where he served his country proudly from 1961 thru 1966.  He began his 30 year career with AT&T in New York City and retired in 1996.  After retirement, he became a Real Estate Broker in the Lake Norman area.

Gene was a member of First Baptist Church, Cornelius, NC where he served as Chairman of the Deacon Board.  He was a past Commander of American Legion Post 86 where he was instrumental working with the Town of Cornelius in the establishment of the Vietnam Memorial Wall for the town of Cornelius.

One of the things he told his children and one of the things he truly believed was, “All that we are and all that we have comes from God.  We must resist the tendency to think about the limitations that our family background or our environment create for us.  Instead we should ask God to use us for His purposes, show compassion for the daily needs of those around us.  Ask Him to use you as only He can."

Gene loved his Lord, his family and his friends.  He will be missed by all who knew him.  The family will receive friends and family on Thursday, November 2, 2023 from 10:00am to 10:45am.  A Celebration of Life will follow at 11:00am. Both will be held at Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home, located at 16901 Old Statesville Road, Huntersville, NC 28078.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Cornelius 21017 Catawba Ave. Cornelius, NC 28031; American Legion Post 86(https://corneliuslegion.org/donate/); the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society in his honor.