Daisy McKinney

September 26, 1931 - May 6, 2018

Daisy McKinney went to the arms of our Heavenly Father Sunday, May 6, 2018. Daisy was born in Pattison Texas, September 26, 1931 at her Aunt's farmhouse. She told us a story about her birth—that it was the height of the Great Depression and there was not enough money for her mother, Martha Marie, to give birth at a hospital. Daisy came into the world feet first and from that moment on would be a powerful force.

Daisy grew up in Houston and then in Dallas. Her father, Raymond was employed with the railroad and her mother was a seamstress. After graduating high school in 1950, Daisy entered college at Baylor College of Medicine in Dallas, studying to become a medical technologist, at a time when few women were entering the science field.

She took a position after college in Madison, Wisconsin where she met Harvey Glissendorf. They married and had two daughters, Carolyn and Linda. Daisy later moved to Bryan, Texas to take a position at Texas A&M University in cancer and genetic research. It is there she raised her two girls as a single mother. She worked for Texas A&M for 28 years in various departments including the Veterinarian School. There she led research identifying genes that were susceptible to cancer.

In 1988, Daisy’s daughter, Linda introduced her to the love of her life, George McKinney, and they were married after a short four month courtship. They called each other soul mates. In this union they adopted two sons, Michael and Patrick McKinney. Daisy and George would have celebrated 30 years of marriage this year.

Daisy loved the coast and she and George lived near Port Aransas during their later years together. She loved going to the beach and sitting with her feet in the waves. Daisy and George more recently moved to Austin, Texas to live closer to their children.

Daisy is survived by her soul mate, George McKinney; daughters, Carolyn Bingham and Linda Lessner and her husband Michael; sons, Michael and Patrick McKinney; grandchildren, Lucy Lessner, Copeland Lessner, Ella Lessner, Willem Lessner and Athena McKinney.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Marie Minster; and her brother Raymond Minster. We miss her dearly.