Mary Elizabeth (Richards) Mckinley

Mary Elizabeth Richards McKinley

Mary McKinley passed away peacefully June 2, 2018 at the age of 97.  She was born March 15, 1921, to Mary Magdalene (Hannon) and Henry Clay Richards.  Her mother died when Mary was four.  Her father raised her and her five siblings on a farm near Gaston.

Mary graduated from Gaston High School and from Indiana Business College.  She met her future husband, Howard E. McKinley, while they both worked at Merchants Bank in Muncie.  Howard was drafted in 1940.  Mary travelled by car with her future mother-and father-in-law to wed Howard in Omaha, Neb.  Mary returned to Muncie to live with her in-laws.  The couple spent the war years in St. Louis, returning to Muncie at war’s end, after Howard’s discharge.  They and their two children moved to Indianapolis in 1954.

Mary was active in the raising of her children.  She and her husband were avid golfers and delivered Meals on Wheels for more than 25 years.  They travelled throughout the United States and to Western Europe.  Mary served as president and Town Hall Chair of the Sunnyside Guild.  She was an elder and a deacon at Northminster Presbyterian Church.

She was preceded in death by her husband Howard in 2011.  Mary was the last survivor of her five siblings and their spouses.

Mary is survived by son, Dr. Gregory A. McKinley (Floreen) Washington; daughter, Judith A. Nelson (Richard) Indianapolis; grandchildren: Brian McKinley (Csilla) Bloomington; Mark McKinley, Jacksonville, Ala.; Christopher Nelson and Elizabeth Brake (Joey), both of Indianapolis; great-granddaughter Nina McKinley; and many nieces and nephews.

The family expresses sincerest appreciation and deepest affection to Mary’s at-home caregivers of many years from Senior Home Companions.  The family wishes to also thank the caring staff at American Village and to express profound gratitude to the staff of Heartland Hospice.

Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 6 in Flanner Buchanan-  Broad Ripple, 1305 Broad Ripple Avenue.  Funeral services will be on Thursday, June 7 at 11:00 a.m., with visitation from 10:00 a.m. until the service time at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 1660 Kessler Boulevard East Drive.  Entombment will be in Washington Park North Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Northminster Presbyterian Church or to Meals on Wheels.