Murrel Paul McKinney, 80, of Sumerco, departed this life on Saturday, February 7, 2009, at Charleston Area Medical Center. He was born March 13, 1928 in Tango, West Virginia. He was an elder and member of the Griffithsville Church of Christ, where he preached for 45 years. He served as a minister at numerous Churches of Christ, since 1953. Murrel was a merchant marine and later served his country in the U.S. Army from 1946 to 1947.
He was an active member of his community. He was a past president and zone leader of the Lions Club. Murrel was involved in coaching and mentoring through youth athletics. He was an announcer of Duval High School Football and Griffithsville area little league baseball from 1957 to 1987. He was a loaned executive to the United Way of the Kanawha Valley. He graduated Duval High School and attended Morris Harvey College. Murrel retired as an accounting manager from Columbia Gas Corporation in 1985 after a 33 year career with the company. He is a fine example of a gentleman farmer. He reaped what he sowed, and the bounty of his labor was beautiful vegetable gardens, fruit trees, and animals for those around him. In addition to enjoying his big red tractor, he loved spending time in his workshop, hunting and playing golf. Murrel is preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Wavie McKinney; brother, Norris McKinney; sister, Roma Justice; son-in-law, Roger Lovejoy; and grandson, Joey Lovejoy.
Murrel was a devoted family man. He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Alberta Alice (Watts) McKinney and their three children, daughter, Pauletta (Pam) Lovejoy of Alum Creek, son, Minister Charles McKinney (Cindy) of Beckley and son, David McKinney (Trena) of Alum Creek. Grandchildren, Ray Lovejoy (Corrie) of Charleston, Apphia McKinney of Kingwood, Dr. Gabriel McKinney of Sumerco, Joel McKinney of Huntington, Davy McKinney, Camdyn McKinney and Tamika Summerfield, all of Alum Creek. He had two great-granddaughters, Tahlee McKinney and Savanna Lovejoy. Also surviving is his brother, Frederic McKinney, Jr. (Betty) of Charleston and sisters and brothers in law with whom he shared much of his life, along with numerous nieces and nephews and many special friends.
Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 12, 2009 at Curry Funeral Home, Alum Creek, with Kim Matthews officiating. Burial will be held in Orchard Hills Memory Gardens, Yawkey. The family will receive friends \from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 at the funeral home.