Michael Andrew McKinney

Mike entered this world on February 4, 1958 in Heidelberg, Germany where his father was stationed. He was the second of three children born to his parents, Margery “Marg”' Elizabeth Black and Horatio “Bud” Walker McKinney.

With his father in the Army, the family moved numerous times, to Mike’s disliking, living in Anchorage, Albuquerque, Pensacola and back to Heidelberg where he graduated high school.

Mike then followed his mother to NC. He attended Davidson County Community College, graduating in 1979. Mike’s dream of becoming a horticulturist led him to NC State University in Raleigh in 1980. Unfortunately, he was only able to attend one year. Undeterred and with a strong work ethic, he set out to use his God given gardening talent working as a groundskeeper at Woodscape Apartments in 1981. After impressing the residents and staff with seasonal plantings around the property each year, he was able to begin building a portfolio of his work, using it to obtain a position with North Ridge Country Club. It was there that he gained a greater understanding of turf grass management while continuing to impress guests with floral plantings around the property. His next career move in 1987 proved to be the most successful. Mike was hired by the Town of Smithfield to beautify and maintain strategic areas while working closely with the Appearance and Beautification Committee. One town manager recognized leadership potential in him and promoted him to General Services Director overseeing five departments. Mike served the town and its citizens for over 24 years.

Mike met the love of his life, Amy, through a mutual friend in 1983. He invited her to a Halloween costume party which eventually led to marriage in April 1985. Mike longed to settle in one place after having moved many times as a child. He was adamant about raising his children in one place so they could have the childhood he had wanted. He found the perfect place with a large yard in Clayton in 1993. In October 1995, the couple became a family when their daughter Christine was born.

Because he was passionate about gardening, he spent most of his spare time in his yard, creating a park-like oasis for his family and neighbors to enjoy. Many a fun game of croquet was played on Mike’s beautiful turf with family and friends. He shared his love of the outdoors with his wife and daughter by taking them camping trips they made regularly until he retired in 2012. He had many talents such as sewing, building, remodeling, and repairing broken items. He was affectionately known to his family as “Mr. Fix It Man.” Being a self-taught, hard working man, he was dedicated, loyal, creative, inventive, and hilariously funny! It was his joy to make others laugh with his crazy sense of humor, especially his wife and daughter. His family and close friends will greatly miss his characters “Bruce”, the “professor”, and the “German” while his followers on social media will miss his #mikedoes videos.

Mike is predeceased by his parents, Bud and Marg; sisters Virginia “Ginny” Garcia, Elizabeth “Elise” Eagle, Georgia Heath, and half-brother Marcus Womack.

He is survived by his wife and daughter; sister-in-laws Deborah Leatherman (Mel) and Stephanie Wilson (Mark); brother-in-law Edward Moose (Teresa); cousins Christine “Chrissie” Gustafson and Lawrence “Larry” Works; step-sister Debbie Velasquez and step-mother Fran McKinney, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life service is planned for Saturday, July 26th at Noon in the fellowship hall of Amelia Christian Church, 1696 Amelia Church Rd, Clayton, NC.