Morgan Clifton McKinney

                                                      MEMORIES OF A LIFE WELL-LIVED

                                                           MORGAN "M.C". MCKINNEY

If we could speak across the decades to Clifton and Viola McKinney on September 5, 1929, we might say,  "Thank you for bringing your eleven pound baby boy, Morgan Clifton McKinney, Jr. into the world.  Thank you for the gift of our husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather."

Spanning more than eight decades, Morgan's life began in Engelhard, North Carolina, a thriving agricultural and shrimping village on the shores of the Pamlico Sound.  His home-town years included hard work on the family farm and store, harvesting oysters, and building a sailboat, as well as such community involvement as playing in rhythm and bluegrass bands, boxing for his high school, singing solos in church, and the senior class play.

M.C. (as he was known in Engelhard) worked as a clerk and butcher in McKinney and Sons, his father's general store.  He also drove one of the McKinney "store trucks" during the lean war years, bringing needed provisions to customers along the backroads of Hyde County.

Morgan graduated from Engelhard High School and later Atlantic Christian College, from where, on a trip to Wilmington with a schoolmate, he met his companion's sister, June Holton.  They became sweethearts and were married after graduation, a union that lasted more than sixty-one years.

He later graduated from Brite Divinity School of Texas Christian University, was ordained a minister in the Disciples of Christ church, and pastored in Texas, Florida and North Carolina.  A subsequent decision to pursue a second career in education included study at Appalachian State University and teaching architectural and mechanical drafting in Florida and Independence High School in Charlotte.  He is remembered for his interest in and respect for his students as well as the real, usable vocational training he imparted to them.

After retirement from Multi-Shifter Inc. in Charlotte, Morgan designed and built - with the help of his family - a vacation home near Boone, NC.  Many happy days were spent by the family and grandchildren in the Pine Run house.  In addition, he made numerous improvements to his family's home, property, and vehicles over more than fifty years.  Because he was an avid gardner, many people reaped the rewards of Morgan's fruit orchard and vegetable gardens.

He liked a good Western or World War II movie, his wife's cooking, driving in the country, camping, and any book he could get his hands on.  A 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle was candy, Jacky the Dachshund his very best friend.  Above all he loved the great music of the centuries, particularly the orchestral and operatic works of Beethoven, Rossini, Wagner, Verdi, Handel, and the like.

We, his family, will remember Morgan's devotion as he led us through the years with his courage, wisdom, and wit.  He privately lived close to his God of creation and publicly witnessed throughout his life of integrity and honesty.

Now we say good-bye to this dearest Husband, Dad, and Papa, knowing that he is now fishing, hunting, and building with his beloved grandsons Ryan and Peter, and dwelling on God's peaceful estates.

His was truly a life that mattered.

The world is better because he was here.

He shall live forever in our hearts and in our lives.

June-wife

Donna, Mark-children

Grace, Adrian-grandchildren

Emma, Shaye-great grandchildren

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