Clara was born in Rotan, Texas on December 16, 1935, and her family moved to Dallas in 1937. She was the middle of 12 children and grew up in the Oak Cliff community in Dallas, Texas. She graduated from Adamson High School in January 1954, and married Gordon McKinney of Fort Worth in July 1954, just six weeks after they met on a blind date. Those who knew them, recognized they enjoyed a 45+ year love affair, until Gordon’s death in March of 1999. They shared a love of dancing, square dancing, camping, gardening, and art. Clara was an accomplished artist and seamstress. After living in Arlington for over thirty years, and raising their family, they moved to Weatherford, Texas where three of Clara’s siblings lived. They loved their “country life.” She moved to Grapevine in 2017 to be closer to her family and in April 2020 moved into Sundance Senior Living group home where she received loving care 24 / 7 along with three other residents.
Clara took delight in her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. She was a homemaker until after her first grandchild was born. She then worked as a receptionist for Family Healthcare Associates in Arlington for thirteen years, and later Texas Bank in Weatherford until her retirement in 1995.
We all enjoyed Mom / Nanny / Aunt Clara recalling sweet memories from her childhood and days-gone-by. She regaled all with stories of her youth, art lessons, belly dancing, camping, travels to Boston and Los Angeles, and a Great Dane named Warrior. She had a wonderful collection of children’s books and films, and she possessed an uncanny knack for reading stories aloud. When she read a children’s book, regardless of your age, it was impossible not to stop and give her your undivided attention to hear the magic unfold.
Throughout her life, Clara volunteered at her church in several capacities, and she had been an active member of Central Christian Church in Weatherford. She helped with Vacation Bible Schools, Wednesday night activities, and for many years was active in Christian Women’s Fellowship. Clara was best remembered for helping prepare meals every Wednesday night for many years, helping with the annual Turkey Dinner and Peach Festival fundraisers, and helping teach the children’s group how to embroidery.
Everyone who knew her loved her and they felt truly blessed by her loving, kind, Christ-like demeanor. Her caregivers at Sundance Senior Living felt she was their true family and loved her dearly. The hospital nurses in Mansfield loved her enough to sit with her after their shift, share loving words, and praying with her through her final days. Her light will forever live within those whose lives she touched.
Memorial: A private graveside service will be held for immediate family members on Saturday, January 16, 2021. If you would like to send a note to be read at the graveside, please send to [email protected] or [email protected] by Friday, January 15th. A memorial service to take place on May 29th, at Central Christian Church in Weatherford to honor Clara, provided we are able to hold our traditional family reunion that day. If desired, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Feed America, your local food bank, or the World Health Organization to provide assistance to vulnerable populations most impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic.
Survivors: Son, Randal G. McKinney and his wife, Martha, of Arlington; daughters Susan Pavelek and her husband George, of Colleyville; and Nancy Burall and her husband George, of North Richland Hills; grandchildren Toni Leber and her husband Brian, Nikki Lesponne and her husband Jean, Andy Phillips and his wife Kelly, Alison Allen and her husband Paul, Amanda McKinney, Matthew Larkin, and Austin McKinney; great-grandchildren Kiera Cotten, Avery Cotten, Olivia Leber, Rosalind Leber, Parker Allen, Caroline Allen, and William Leber; sisters Dorothy Bailey and her husband Clyde, and Imogene Davis; brothers Billy Grady and his wife Marion, B L Grady and his wife Judy, Roy Dale Grady and his wife Patricia; brother-in-law Michael L. McKinney and his wife, Karen, along with 26 loving nieces, nephews and their families.
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