Delma Marie McKinney

Delma Marie McKinney, age 93, passed away peacefully into the loving arms of her heavenly Father, early Monday morning, May 5, 2025, at Morning Pointe Powell, after a 3-year courageous fight with cancer.

She was born March 1, 1932, in Pine Valley, a small farming community close to Ellington, Missouri, to Bill and Alma Chitwood. On June 10th, 1950, she married the love of her life, John McKinney, in Van Buren, Missouri. They were blessed with 64 years of marriage before he preceded her in death on Oct. 3, 2014.

Mrs. McKinney is lovingly survived by a son, John L. McKinney II (Marty), of Johnson City; and a daughter, Teresa Hoekstra (Roy), of Knoxville, TN; seven grandchildren, Jason (Julie) Hoekstra, Scott (Keely) Hoekstra, Tiffani (Justin) Roop, Shawna (Corey) Bailey, John L. McKinney, III, Jacob (Becca) Hoekstra, Joseph (Emily) Hoekstra; 11 great-grandchildren, Joshua, Nathaniel, Samuel, Alia, Matthew, Lainey, Luke, Holland, Alexander, Eliana, and Fisher; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Bill and Alma Chitwood; 6 sisters, Lessie Glass, Dessie Dawson, Wilma Blake, Nadine Black, Faye Helvey, Wanda Buxton; 4 brothers, Pete Chitwood, Dan Chitwood, John A Chitwood, and Billy Rae Chitwood; 1 grandson, Matthew Hoekstra; 1 great-granddaughter, Mabry Jane Hoekstra.

Mrs. McKinney was one amazing woman, loved by everyone she met. Her love for Jesus was contagious and everyone who knew her, knew her faith in Jesus was real. While living in Centralia, Illinois, she was a member of Demaree United Methodist church for years and worked with the youth as a Sunday school teacher, vacation Bible school teacher, and a youth leader. She was a retail merchandiser for JC Penney until she and her husband retired and moved to Knoxville, Tennessee to be near their children and grandchildren. After moving to Knoxville, they became members of Bookwalter Methodist Church where they were actively involved and enjoyed their Keenager activities. She is famously known among her grandchildren for her biscuits and gravy, chicken and dumplings, “fried chicken,” “apple dumplings,” and blackberry cobblers. Her grands and great-grands loved coming to visit “Grandma McKinney!” For almost 20 years she and her husband became “snow birds” after Christmas and worked at a Holiness Camp in Avon Park, Florida where she loved serving the missionaries and pastors coming to the camp meetings. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend who was respected by all who knew her. Heaven gained a treasure on the morning of May 5th! She will be greatly missed by all.

Special thanks go out to the staff of Morning Pointe Powell and Amedisys Hospice for their kind and compassionate care of Delma in her final days.

In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution in her honor to the charity of your choice.

The family will receive friends from 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm Saturday, May 10, with Celebration of Life Service to follow at Mynatt Funeral Home Powell Chapel. Interment will be held at Bookwalter Cemetery after the service.

Services in care of Mynatt Funeral Home, Powell Chapel.

Mynatt Funeral Home Powell Chapel * 2000 Powell Drive * Powell, TN 37849 * (865) 362-5382 * www.mynattfh.com