The family of John Ed McKinney announces his passing on Wednesday, July 22nd at the age of 88. John was born in Warren, Arkansas on the family farm on April 15, 1938. John is preceded in death by his parents, David McKinney and Gertrude Halligan McKinney. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mary Lou, son Richard McKinney (Laura), and daughter Jennifer Haarala (Joel) and his sister Sue Lung. John had five grandchildren: Gavin McKinney (Nina), Brady McKinney (Bailey), Courtney McKinney, Michael Haarala (Breena)and Jacob Haarala and six great-grandchildren.
At the age of two, John’s family moved to Smackover, Arkansas where he grew up. His mother Gertrude owned a dry goods store, and his father co-owned a grocery store. John worked as a butcher in the family business and when he went to college in Conway, Arkansas, he worked as a butcher at Safeway. John grew up working long hours in the family business, and it instilled in him a strong desire to have his own business one day. John also met Mary Lou in high school in Smackover. He and Mary Lou married and relocated to Ruston in 1958 where they both attended and graduated from Louisiana Tech University.
John and Mary Lou started a business in Simsboro, Louisiana selling chain saws in 1961. By 1965, they also became a Honda motorcycle dealership and relocated the business to Ruston. The new store was called McKinney Saw & Cycle and continues to be a family operated and owned business today. John never forgot a face or a customer. He remembered their names, what they had purchased and when they bought it. He always wanted to help his customers and wanted to take care of them. John loved going to work every day. To him, it wasn’t work.
John enjoyed duck hunting with friends and family, deer hunting with family at the Arkansas deer camp, attending La. Tech football games, spending time with his grandchildren, and spending time at the beach in Destin as well as traveling. John also loved fishing but especially loved fileting the fish, his own and everyone else’s! John was a member of Grace United Methodist Church for over 60 years and was a member of the Board of Directors of Ruston State Bank. He served in the National Guard for 4 years.
Visitation for John will be held at Kilpatrick Funeral Home in Ruston, on Sunday, July 26th from 4:00pm-7:00pm. The service will be held on Monday, July 27, 2026, at 10:00am at Kilpatrick Funeral Home Chapel in Ruston. Officiating the service will be Reverend Wayne Evans. A private interment will be at Kilpatrick Memorial Gardens in Ruston.
Pallbearers will be Gavin McKinney, Brady McKinney, Michael Haarala, Jacob Haarala, Howard Halligan and Robert Temple.
The family would like to thank Premier Hospice, The Gardens at Georgia Tucker Memory Care Unit, Quality Care at Home and his special sitters Lisa Hanes and Priscilla Boateng for their loving care and compassion.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Methodist Children’s Home or the Alzheimer’s Association.
