Donald Bernard McKinney

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Donald Bernard Mckinney on February 3, 2023 with his loving family by his side. Don was born in Port Alberni on May 3, 1940, to Richard and Marguerite McKinney, along with his twin brother and forever best friend, Dick. Soon after they moved to James Bay of Victoria B.C. where they spent their childhood. Don is predeceased by his wife, Winnie, and his brothers, Dick and Jim. He is survived by his brother, Gerry (Rose), and his sisters-in-law, Dolores and Linda.

Don met his loving wife, Winnie, in 1958 at a barn dance at Luxton Hall, and they were married on December 5, 1959. Don and Winnie had three children, Rick (Norma Jean), Lynn (Ron), and Chuck (Tracey). They had five grandchildren, Kaetlynn, Courtney (Eric), Joshua (Jennifer), Hillary, and Cameron, and one great-grandson, Lane. Don loved his grandchildren with all of his heart, and they would put a smile on his face that could light up a room. You would often hear Don bragging about his grandchildren, as he was so proud of them all, and he loved to watch them grow and follow their dreams.

After school, Don started a career with the E and N Railway, which would later become C.P. Rail, as a wiper/fireman. He quickly advanced into a Locomotive Engineer position. He worked in this position at C.P. Rail for 37 years at various locations of Victoria, Roberts Bank, and Kamloops. Don retired on Vancouver Island driving the bud car from Esquimalt to Courtney.

In 1994, Don and Winnie moved to Blind Bay B.C., where they built their dream home overlooking the Shuswap Lake. There, they met a great circle of friends, and they could often be found sitting on their deck enjoying a beer with their dog Tickles on their lap. Don loved the outdoors, whether it be wandering the bush during hunting season, or waiting on a lake for that lunker to bite his hook.

The family would like to thank all the amazing Doctors and Nurses of Salmon Arm Hospital and Kamloops Royal Inland Hospital that cared for Don over the past year. A special thanks to the Renal Clinic of Kamloops, as they made his visits enjoyable.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Diabetes Foundation or the Canadian Kidney Foundation would be appreciated.

A Celebration of life will be held May 6, 2023 at 12:00, Knutsford Hall, 2560 Princeton Highway, Kamloops BC

God's Garden

God looked around His garden

And found an empty space;

He then looked down upon this earth

And saw your tired face.

He put His arms around you

And lifted you to rest;

God’s garden must be beautiful,

He only takes the best.

He knew that you were suffering,

He knew you were in pain

He knew you might never

Get well upon this earth again.

He saw the road was getting rough

And the hills were hard to climb

So He closed your weary eyelids

And whispered, “Peace be thine.”

It broke our hearts to lose you

But you never went alone.

For part of us went with you

The day God called you home.

* * * * * * * * * *

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Donald Bernard Mckinney on February 3, 2023 with his loving family by his side. Don was born in Port Alberni on May 3, 1940, to Richard and Marguerite McKinney, along with his twin brother and forever best friend, Dick. Soon after they moved to James Bay of Victoria B.C. where they spent their childhood. Don is predeceased by his wife, Winnie, and his brothers, Dick and Jim. He is survived by his brother, Gerry (Rose), and his sisters-in-law, Dolores and Linda.

Don met his loving wife, Winnie, in 1958 at a barn dance at Luxton Hall, and they were married on December 5, 1959. Don and Winnie had three children, Rick (Norma Jean), Lynn (Ron), and Chuck (Tracey). They had five grandchildren, Kaetlynn, Courtney (Eric), Joshua (Jennifer), Hillary, and Cameron, and one great-grandson, Lane. Don loved his grandchildren with all of his heart, and they would put a smile on his face that could light up a room. You would often hear Don bragging about his grandchildren, as he was so proud of them all, and he loved to watch them grow and follow their dreams.

After school, Don started a career with the E and N Railway, which would later become C.P. Rail, as a wiper/fireman. He quickly advanced into a Locomotive Engineer position. He worked in this position at C.P. Rail for 37 years at various locations of Victoria, Roberts Bank, and Kamloops. Don retired on Vancouver Island driving the bud car from Esquimalt to Courtney.

In 1994, Don and Winnie moved to Blind Bay B.C., where they built their dream home overlooking the Shuswap Lake. There, they met a great circle of friends, and they could often be found sitting on their deck enjoying a beer with their dog Tickles on their lap. Don loved the outdoors, whether it be wandering the bush during hunting season, or waiting on a lake for that lunker to bite his hook.

The family would like to thank all the amazing Doctors and Nurses of Salmon Arm Hospital and Kamloops Royal Inland Hospital that cared for Don over the past year. A special thanks to the Renal Clinic of Kamloops, as they made his visits enjoyable.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Canadian Diabetes Foundation or the Canadian Kidney Foundation would be appreciated.

A Celebration of life will be held May 6, 2023 at 12:00, Knutsford Hall, 2560 Princeton Highway, Kamloops BC