A.S. (Mac) Mckinney

A.S. McKinney (Mac) of Montrose passed away April 3, 2013 at Montrose Memorial Hospital after a brief but overwhelming battle with liver cancer.  He was 79.  He was a strong man beating all the odds with his health.  He suffered his first heart attack at the age of 43, preceded by 6 more heart attacks, 2 quadruple bypasses, a ruptured aortic aneurism, broken ribs and several strokes.  Cancer was the one thing he just couldn’t beat.

Admiral Sampson McKinney was one of 11 children born to William C. and Dinnah (Estes) McKinney in Shade, Kentucky on December 5, 1933. 

At a young age, he left Kentucky to join the Navy, only to find that with the name of “Admiral” he couldn’t get in.  So he settled on the Army and earned the rank of Staff Sergeant.  It was during his tour of duty in Corozal Panama that he met the love of his life, Phoebe L. Johns from Delta, CO.  She was a Corporal with the U.S. Army stationed in Ft. Clayton, Panama.

They celebrated 118th anniversaries! Mac and Phoebe were married in Panama on October 23, 1953.  The marriage, however, was not recognized by the U.S. Government and they were “remarried” on the U.S. Army base, Ft. Clayton, Panama on November 19, 1953.

Mac was a carpenter by trade.  Every job he ever had he always ended up to be the supervisor or contractor.  His greatest accomplishment was building the Adolph Coors building (now Weatherport) in Delta.  He was the Maintenance Supervisor for Montrose County until his last quadruple bypass forced his early retirement in 1992

He loved to tinker.  He didn’t see any sense in throwing anything away if it could be fixed.  His philosophy was that “if man could make it, then man could fix it”.   He was still using his 1957 lawn mower and driving his 1960 Chevy Station Wagon.

Mac was preceded in death by his parents, 3 brothers and 3 sisters, his mother and father in-law (Wilber and Carrie Johns), a brother in law (Albert Conrad) and nephew (Duane Conrad) and a son-in-law (Lyman “Tommy” Thomas, Jr.).  

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Phoebe, two daughters Seleena (Barry) King of Montrose, Arnetta (Tim) Braithwaite of Grand Junction, grandchildren: Dylan Thomas, Cory Thomas, Shane King and Jamie King, T.J. Braithwaite, Amanda (Jason) Ornong, Amy Braithwaite, and Derek Braithwaite.  Great grand-children: Tristan Rock, Pepper Strole, Alexandrea Gunn, Augustina King, Nathaniel Ornong and Cameron Ornong.  3 sisters and 1 brother.  A Graveside Service with Military Honors will be held on Friday, April 5, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at Delta Municipal Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Sharing Ministries, 121 N. Rio Grande, Montrose, Co. 81401.  Arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home & Crematory, Montrose, Co.