Dennis Michael McKinney

Dennis Michael McKinney, husband of Paula McKinney, of Austin, Texas, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, December 17. He was born on July 15, 1957, to James Sterling and Doris Avera McKinney in Freeport, Texas. Dennis was raised on the Texas Gulf Coast and graduated from Brazosport High School in Freeport in 1975. He attended Louisiana State University where he made lifelong friends and met the love of his life Paula, graduating in 1979. He remained a steadfast fan of LSU Football until his last day.

Dennis graduated from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in 1983 and began a reluctant forty plus year career as an attorney. Dennis and Paula married in May of 1981, and following Dennis’s law school graduation spent six wonderful years living in Galveston raising their four daughters.

In 1989, Dennis and Paula moved to Longview, Texas, where they lived for twenty years and Dennis worked as an attorney in private practice. In 2009, they relocated to Austin when Dennis began working as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Texas. Dennis lived a full life and cherished traveling with his wife Paula, spending time with his eight grandchildren as their Pappy, and relaxing by his backyard pool.

While living in Austin, he embraced the cycling community and led a weekly bicycle ride for beginner riders out of Mellow Johnny’s Bike Shop. He was beloved by family, coworkers, and friends for his generosity, humor, and storytelling.

He was preceded in death by his parents Jim and Doris McKinney, his brothers Spike and Bill McKinney, and his soul dog Trixie Duvall.

He is survived by his wife of forty-four years Paula McKinney of Austin, Texas; his daughter Kelly Bohne, husband Brett Bohne, and their children Michael, Evelyn, and Clyde of Stuttgart, Germany; his daughter Christine McKinney and her son Henry Zewe of Winchester, Massachusetts; his daughter Catherine Shore, husband David Shore, and their children Willa and James of Longview, Texas; and his daughter Colleen McKinney, her husband Tim Green, and their children Alina and Cooper of Fort Collins, Colorado.

Visitation will be held Monday, December 22, from 4:00 to 6:30pm at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 2620 South Congress Avenue.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place Tuesday, December 23, at 1:00pm at St. Ignatius Martyr Catholic Church, 126 W Oltorf St.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Dennis’s honor to Austin’s Yellow Bike Project, the Red Line Parkway Initiative, and SARA Sanctuary Animal Rescue.