Elray McKinney

Elray was the first born of five children, the valedictorian of her high school class, and an extremely proud Texas Tech alumni, where she was president of Ko Shari social club and received a Business degree in 1940. Upon graduation, Elray moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico to work in the Capitol building as a secretary for the State Liquor Board in their Bureau of Revenue. She worked for them until marrying Elmer Hanson McKinney, an Army Air Corps pilot from Nebraska who was stationed in Albuquerque. They were married for more than 50 years, and lived in Lubbock where Elray was an active member and volunteer at First Baptist Church, The Lubbock Women’s club, Garden Club, Horizons Study club, Pi Beta Phi Alumni Club, P.E.O., and the Museum of Texas Tech University Association. She was also a founding committee member of the Texas Tech Museum’s Summer Youth program, and key facilitator of the programming for many years.

Elray is preceded in death by husband, Elmer Hanson McKinney; parents, Clyde and Ora Lewis; sister, Vondee Lewis Moore and husband Zeb; brother, C.L. “Bobby” Lewis; brother, Deverelle Lewis and wife Gloria; and brother, Leon Lewis.

Elray is survived by son, Robert W. McKinney and wife Marilyn; daughter Devon McKinney Mora and husband Henry; grandchildren Abbey Mora Swanson and husband Nick, Beth Mora, Hanson McKinney and Colton McKinney; and great-grandchildren Mia Swanson and Norah Swanson.

Memorial service for Elray will be held Saturday, February 26 at Resthaven’s Abbey Chapel at 1:00 PM. Visitation will be from 12-1 PM prior to the service at Resthaven Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Texas Tech Museum, Lubbock’s First Baptist Church or a charity of your choice.