Helen Lee McKinney

Helen Lee McKinney Helen Lee McKinney of Locust Grove passed on July 22, she was 85 years old. Helen was born on July 5th, 1931 in Carlsbad, New Mexico. She was the adopted daughter of Linder Edgar Morgan and Ava Hester Morgan. The Morgan’s left New Mexico while she was a small child and moved to Rose, Oklahoma. As Helen grew up her family owned and operated both a small grocery store in Rose and later a laundry mat in Leach, OK. Helen attended and graduated from Oaks High School where she proudly played for the Oaks High School Basketball team. She was married in 1951. She had three children: Billie Lea, Joye Aleta, and Roger Alan. Helen was a strong woman and dedicated mother who worked many years as an Aid at Locust Grove Nursing Home to provide for her children. As she strived to better her and her children’s lives she later attended and graduated the Nursing Home Administrator Program at the University of Oklahoma. She went on to serve as the administrator at the nursing home for many more years. All together she worked for the Locust Grove Nursing Home for over 30 years. When she wasn’t working long hours to provide for her three children, Helen found great enjoyment in attending her children’s and grandchildren’s athletic events. She also attended car races with her cherished friends Nadine and Melt Cobler. Helen’s greatest life pleasure was celebrating Christmas with her family and she went to great lengths to ensure that Christmas was special for everyone. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, L.E. “Bud” and Ava Morgan, and her beloved friends Edith and Malcolm Conner. She is survived by her children: daughter Billie Stephens and husband Charles “Chuck” Stephens, daughter Joye Pryor and son Roger McKinney, all of Locust Grove, OK; four grandchildren: Jyme Ferguson Lowe, William Pryor, Carolyn Pryor, and Roger McKinney II; and five great-grandchildren: Jadyn Lowe, Warren Pryor, Austin Thompson, Roger McKinney III, and Kaden McKinney. She is also survived by special friends Nadine Cobler and Joyce Cochran Wall. The family would like to thank Dr. David Ring, special nurse Dorothy Smith, and Rivercross Hospice for their exceptional care of Helen as she battled Alzheimer’s for over 20 years. A graveside service will be held at Hogan Cemetery in Locust Grove, OK, on Tuesday, July 26 at 10am. Steve Lay of the Chouteau Church of Christ will officiate the service.

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Helen Lee McKinney

August 8, 2016