Lemuel Meridy and Mary Ann Duck McKinney

Lemuel Meridy McKinney was born 25 August 1848 to Daniel and Dorothy Adeline Ferris McKinney probably in Titus County, Texas, in the area that is now Franklin County. Lemuel married 2 July 1874 at Sardis in Cass County, Texas, Mary Ann Duck who was born 8 November 1857 to Eliza J. Booker and John S. Duck in Mississippi. Lemuel and Mary Ann first lived in the Union Hill Community between Hughes Springs and Linden, then near Hughes Springs for a time and later in the Turkey Creek Community. Last they lived in the Pruitt Lake Community. Lemuel and Mary Ann had eleven children, all born in Cass County, Texas: 1. James Taylor McKinney born 19 May 1875, died 17 May 1970, Cass County, Texas. Married first in 1904 Effie Lula Stalnecker, born 17 May 1879, died 19 September 1930, Cass County, Texas. Together they had four children: 1.1 Willard McKinney, born 5 February 1905, died 8 December 1998. Willard married first in 1929 to Flora Amox, born 1912, died 1964. Willard and Flora had two daughters: 1.1.1 Helen Joyce who married James Ross, an attorney in Longview, Texas. They have three children, David, Donna, and Linda.

1.1.2 Mary Elizabeth who married Cyrus Reeder They live in Houston and have one son, Wayne.

Willard married second Lorena Barker Samples in 1966. Willard graduated from school in 1923 as Salutatorian of his class. He entered East Baptist College at Marshall, Texas, and attended one year. He taught school for sixteen years going back to college in the summer to renew his certificate. Willard graduated from East Texas State Teachers College in 1941. In 1942 he moved to Hughes Springs and went to work for the United States Postal Service carrying the mail for 31 years. Willard was deacon in the Baptist church and he taught a men’s Sunday School class for many years. Also, he was secretary of the Masonic Lodge for 33 years.

1.2 William Thomas “Tommy” McKinney, born 23 February 1907, died 12 September 1956 and buried in the Turkey Creek Cemetery, Cass County, Texas. Tommy never married.

1.3 Elsie Faylene McKinney, born 24 December 1908, died 18 November 1967. She married Elvin Dean.

1.4 Norris Porter McKinney, born 18 May 1912, died 7 January 1952 and buried in the Turkey Creek Cemetery, Cass County, Texas.

2. George Washington McKinney, born 19 March 1877, died 1 November 1961 and buried in the Turkey Creek Cemetery, Cass County, Texas. He never married and lived his entire life in Cass County.

3. Daniel McKinney, born December 1878 and died before 1880.

4. Sarah “Saffie” Jane McKinney, born 26 June 1880, died 13 March 1968. Sallie married James Franklin Biddy and they had four children, Florence V., Clara, Elton and Harbin.

5. Mary Elizabeth “Lizzie” McKinney, born 8 October 1883, died 18 October 1963 and buried in the Sardis Cemetery, Cass County, Texas. Lizzie married Arthur Joel Watkins and had four children, Ola, J.K., Nina Mae and Claudine.

6. Martha Susan “Susie” McKinney, born 29 January 1885, died 22 October 1974, buried in Hughes Springs Cemetery, Cass County, Texas. Susie married Jack L. Patman and they had six children, Elmer, Lois, Euna Faye, Cleolice and Lanelle.

7. William Thomas McKinney, born 4 May 1887, died 27 June 1907 and buried in the Turkey Creek Cemetery, Cass County, Texas. He died from cancer.

8. Letha Mae McKinney, born 6 March 1891, died 18 December 1973 and buried in the Turkey Creek Cemetery, Cass County, Texas. Letha Mae first married Alfred Boden and second, Robert Hagood. She never had children.

9. Elmer Grady McKinney, born 1 December 1893, died 1 August 1976, and buried in the Turkey Creek Cemetery, Cass County, Texas. On 5 November 1916, Grady married Era Starrett, born 1 July 1902, died 18 May 1980, and buried in the Turkey Creek Cemetery, Cass County, Texas. Era was the daughter of George and Carrie Starrett who are also buried in the Turkey Creek Cemetery. Grady and Era had three sons, William Booker, James Everett, and Raymond Scott McKinney.

9.1 William Booker McKinney, born 15 August 1918, died 15 March 1975, and is buried in the Avinger Cemetery, Avinger, Cass County, Texas. Booker married Rosie Hagood and they had four children, Norma, Elmer Daniel “Pete”, Ann and Brooker McKinney.

9.2 James Everett McKinney married Ann and they have three children, Kyle, Kaye and Lori Ann McKinney.

9.3 Raymond Scott McKinney, born 29 May 1925, died 7 August 1972, buried in the Turkey Creek Cemetery, Cass County, Texas. Raymond first married Mertis Glover and they had one son, Dudley. Second he married Louise Llewelyn and they had two sons, Daniel Scott and Gary Don McKinney.

10. Oscar Olin “CO.” McKinney, born 23 July 1896, died 1 August 1991 and buried in the Avinger Cemetery, Avinger, Cass County, Texas. On 25 November 1917 Oscar married Minerva Rachel Byler, born 3 September 1897 to Ora Sarah Barnes and James William Byler in Farmersville, Collin County, Texas. Oscar and Minerva had three children, Merilyn, Halbert Arnold and Elgerene Laveme McKinney. See separate section on Oscar’s and Minerva’s family and descendants.

11. Jacob Travis “Jake” McKinney was born 9 Dec 1903, died in 1941 and buried in Concord Cemetery near Omaha in Morris County, Texas. Jake married Viola Boozer and they had two children, Doris Jean and Meredith McKinney.

Lemuel Meridy McKinney was a staunch Baptist and a deacon in the church. He was well known and best remembered for his fervent prayers while down on his knees with eyes closed and face uplifted toward heaven pleading agonizingly with the Lord. Lemuel Meridy and Mary Ann Duck McKinney were charter members of the Pruitt Lake Baptist Church which was organized the second Sunday of May 1917. Letha Mae McKinney and Era Starrett McKinney were also charter members as well as Ora Barnes Byler and Alan Thomas McCoy, mother and step-father of Minerva Byler McKinney. Prior to moving into the Pruitt Lake Community, the McKinney’s memberships were at the Turkey Creek Baptist Church.

Mary Ann Duck McKinney died 1 January 1924, Cass County, Texas, and is buried in the Turkey Creek Cemetery. Lemuel Meredy McKinney died 2 January 1936 in Cass County, Texas, and is also buried in the Turkey Creek Cemetery. Each of their headstones depict the gates of heaven opening to receive them.

By: Marilyn Laverne Morris Russell Great-granddaughter of Lemuel and Mary Ann McKinney