He was born on September 14, 1938, in Martin County, Kentucky, to the late Taylor and Loma (Evans) Jewell. At the age of 17, McKinley and his best friend, James Thomas Maynard, hitchhiked to Columbus, Ohio, and went to work for J. Edwards Construction Company. Later, McKinley went to work for Bonney Flaye Steel, Buckeye Steel and Columbus Stove while living in Columbus.
He then returned to his hometown in Kentucky, working at a gas station repair shop in Lovely, Kentucky. That’s when, one day, he was riding in the back of a red Ford pickup and he saw this beautiful girl leaning on a fence post waving at him. Darlene Crum caught his eye and they were married August 9, 1958. They renewed their vows on August 9, 2025, in the sweetest ceremony at the hospital. They moved to Mansfield in late November 1958 and McKinley began working for Milliron Auto Salvage until finding a job at Empire Steel on December 8, 1958. He retired from the now AK Steel on March 30, 1995, with nearly 37 years of service as a certified welder. He attended Warfield High School. McKinely valued an education and he attended Adult Education Classes in Mansfield, the University of Toledo and Morehead State College in Kentucky, eventually earning his Master’s degree.
Mansfield City School’s vocational program needed a welding instructor and Doug Johnson, head of the vocational school, sought McKinley for the job. He taught there for 2 years at batchler wages and was very successful. All the seniors obtained a job at the end of the school year thanks to his guidance and assistance. The next year, he managed to get all the seniors certified in all welding positions through the Akron Welding Testing Lab. McKinley loved his students and they loved him back.
McKinley’s faith was always present and while he attended many churches over the years, he considered his home to be at Bucyrus Freewill Baptist Church.
Left to cherish his memory is his beloved wife of 67 years, Darlene “Darla” “Big Mommy” Jewell; three children, Sandy (Willis) Castle, Billie (Bub) Ash and Michael (Tracy) Jewell; grandchildren, Nate (Kodi) Wieland, Josh “Hound Dog” Jewell, Stephen O’Brien (April) Swindall, Brittney Bellomy, Max Jewell (Kylee Adkins), and Trista Jewell (Noah Langston), Camellia (Burley) Stapley, Tenille Ash, Killian (Katrina) Pender and Jenny Berry; great-grandchildren, Korbin Wieland, Gabriella Vega-Wieland, Shawn Swindall (Erika Leitenberger), Brice Swindall (Brooklyn Rogers), Karmen Swindall (Sam Zickefoose), Jaelyn and Myles Herndon, Julian Coon, Reila Wieland, Aeryonna Leach, Annaliseah Jewell, Aunika Lauer, Hannah Stapley, Owen Stapley, Adriana Hamm (Ronnie Caris), Mariah Hamm (Kaden Caudill), Adela and Sloane Pender; great-great grandchildren, Blakely, Hank, Jace, and Harrison Swindall, Delilah Caudill, Navy Stapley, Zander Savage, and a boy due in February 2026; five siblings, Dennis (Connie) Jewell, Pauline Nelson, Christine Jewell, Bonnie Jewell and Glenn Chapman.
McKinley was preceded in death by his father and stepmother, Taylor and Nancy Jewell; mother, Loma Evans Jewell Chapman Justice; a grandchild, Jeramia Swindall; and a brother, Richard Jewell.
The family will receive friends from 11:00 am-12:00 pm on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at Wappner Funeral Directors and Crematory-Ontario, 100 S. Lexington-Springmill Road. The funeral service will follow at 12:00 pm. He will be laid to rest in Mansfield Memorial Park.
