Gene McKinney, 78, of Amarillo, Texas passed away on December 27, 2023.
The family received friends from 3:30 P.M. – 4:30 P.M., Saturday, December 30, 2023, at Boxwell Brothers Funeral Home. Services were held Sunday, December 31, 2023, in the Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel, with Daniel Roeder officiating.
Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.
Gene (Everett Eugene McKinney) was born in Lubbock, Texas on July 4, 1945, the son of Lucile (Winn) McKinney and Mac (Thomas Everett) McKinney. He grew up in the Texas Panhandle and loved this area of Texas.
Gene graduated from Happy High School in 1963 and started his family shortly thereafter.
He worked in his early adult life on ranches near Wayside before starting his career in sales.
He worked for Case International Tractor dealerships for many years before becoming self employed with different business ventures.
He traveled extensively throughout the Texas Panhandle/ Western Oklahoma area with his sales career. It was during these travels that he met his wife, Sue McKinney. They married and made their home in Clinton, Oklahoma and later in Cordell, Oklahoma before returning to Amarillo to be surrounded by their children and grandchildren.
Gene found joy in the outdoors with hunting, fishing and camping. This joy was multiplied when he was able to share his love of nature with his kids and grandchildren.
Gene was also very competitive in sports in high school and this transferred into his adult life watching the University of Oklahoma and Dallas Cowboys football teams throughout the years. He passed along his love of sports to the next generations while he coached multiple youth teams. Along with these life passions, Gene chased new hobbies and adventures. One of his passions was making beautiful knives. He spent many hours creating art and function within these knives.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Don McKinney.
Survivors include his wife, Sue McKinney of the home, sister Brenda Muncrief and husband, Jon of Huntsville, Texas, brother Keenan McKinney and wife Carol Burger of Grove, Oklahoma, son Collin McKinney and wife, Jennifer of Fort Worth, Texas, son Terry McKeever of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, daughter Tammy McKeever and spouse Trese Collins of Las Cruces, New Mexico, daughter Holly Hendricks and husband Erick of Amarillo, TX, son Wade McKinney and wife Lisa of Canyon, Texas, daughter Alicia Nily and husband, Kelly Nily of Amarillo, Texas, son Elliot McKinney and wife Jana of Amarillo, Texas, daughter Genie Woodard and husband Joshua of Amarillo, Texas, daughter Loni Nelson-Taylor and husband Donnie of Amarillo, Texas, son James McKinney of Amarillo, Texas, son John McKinney of Amarillo, Texas, daughter Rita Jackson of Amarillo; 26 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces and nephews.