Margaret Diane McKinley

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Margaret Diane McKinley, of Nevada, Mo., died at 7 a.m., Friday, March 8, 2013, at Moore-Few Care Center, following a lengthy illness. She was born in Aurora, Mo., on Nov. 14, 1932, to McCord Taylor "M.T." Davis and Dorothy Sinclair Davis.

Diane was a 1950 graduate of Aurora High School and attended Drury College in Springfield, Mo. She was a graduate of St. John's School of Nursing in 1954 receiving her R.N. certification. Diane was a psychiatric nursing supervisor at the Nevada State Hospital for 16 years before retiring in 1991. In addition, Diane was the first nursing coordinator of the Nevada Home Health Unit, a charter member of the Nevada Antique Study Group and a member of Pi Beta Phi of Drury College. Diane was a long time member and past elder of the First Christian Church in Nevada. Through all the trials of her illness, her love for her Lord Jesus Christ sustained her and she took great comfort in her faith and her family's with Him.

She married John McKinley on Nov. 14, 1954, at her parents' home in Aurora. To this union were born five children and mom served as an inspiration and strong advocate for their education and was proud of the fact she helped raise one nurse, three teachers and one preacher. Survivors include her husband, John McKinley, of Nevada; three daughters, Cynthia Bledsoe and husband, Phil, of Littleton, Colo., Kathy Quinn of Overland Park, Kan., and Karen Overton and husband, Curtis, of Hutchinson, Kan.; two sons, Kevin McKinley and wife, Julie, of Nevada, Mo., and the Rev. David McKinley and wife, Linda, of Schwenksville, Penn. In addition to her five children, she is survived by 11 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and by one brother, M.T. "Bud" Davis and wife, Sue, of Cornelius, N.C. Diane was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Dorothy "Dolly" Henrichs; and one brother, Donald S. Davis.

Memorial services are planned at the First Christian Church of Nevada on Tuesday, March 12, at 11 a.m., with the Revs. David McKinley and Bill Platt officiating. A private committal will be held in the Maple Park Cemetery in Aurora, Mo., at a later date. Memorial gifts requested in lieu of flowers can be made to First Christian Church of Nevada.

Arrangements are under the direction of Ferry Funeral Home, Nevada.

View obituary and send condolences online at www.ferryfuneralhome.com