Roy McKinney (1921-2009)
Saying good-bye to
the ultimate story-teller.
Roy F. McKinney, 87,
of Longmont died May 13, 2009
in Louisville, CO. He was born July 12, 1921 in Memphis, Missouri to John William and Iva Myrtle (Winn) McKinney.
He wasn't in my life long...
but the impression he made
will last a lifetime.
God saw he was getting tired
and a cure was not to be,
so he put his arms around him and whispered "come with me."
With tearful eyes
we watched him suffer,
and saw him fade away.
Although we loved him dearly,
we could not make him stay.
His precious heart
stopped beating.
His hard working hands to rest.
God broke our hearts to
prove to us he only takes
the best.
You were the best,
we'll miss you Roy.
Search Box
FYI: The search box at the top of our home page searches the main area of our site, but does not include our genealogy database which has its own search component to help you find that elusive name.
Welcome & thank you for stopping by for a visit. *g*
On the following pages you will learn a bit about our ongoing research into both my family and my husband, Stephen's family history.
Please keep in mind this is a work in progress and is constantly changing and evolving. To the right is a listing of the main surnames in our research and a general area of where they were.
So please, feel free to kick off your shoes, grab a beverage of your choice, and make yourself comfortable while you search and explore our combined families' history and home on the web.
BTW, we'd love to hear from you, especially if you find someone familiar or if you find an error. Thanks again for stopping and happy digging! Brenda
The Story Tellers: We are the chosen ones
My feelings are that in each family there is one who seems called to find the ancestors. To put flesh on their bones and make them live again, to tell the family story and to feel that somehow they know and approve.
To me, doing genealogy is not a cold gathering of facts but, instead, breathing life into all who have gone before. We are the story tellers of the tribe. All tribes have one. We have been called as it were, by our genes.
Those who have gone before cry out to us: Tell our story! So, we do. In finding them, we somehow find ourselves. How many graves have I stood before and cried? I have lost count. How many times have I told the ancestors, "You have a wonderful family, you would be proud of us!" How many times have I walked up to a grave and felt somehow there was love there for me? I cannot say.
It goes beyond just documenting facts. It goes to who am I and why I do the things I do. It goes to seeing a cemetery about to be lost forever to weeds and indifference, and saying I can't let this happen. The bones here are bones of my bone and flesh of my flesh. It goes to doing something about it.
It goes to pride in what our ancestors were able to accomplish. How they contributed to what we are today. It goes to respecting their hardships and losses, their never giving in or giving up, their resoluteness to go on and build a life for their family.
It goes to deep pride that they fought to make and keep us a Nation. It goes to a deep and immense understanding that they were doing it for us. That we might be born who we are. That we might remember them. So we do. With love and caring and scribing each fact of their existence, because we are them and they are us. (For we without them cannot be made perfect.)
So, as a scribe called, I tell the story of my family. It is up to that one called in the next generation to answer the call and take their place in the long line of family storytellers.
That, is why I do my family genealogy, and that is what calls those young and old to step up and put flesh on the bones.
By: Della M. Cummings Wright - Re-written by her Granddaughter, Della JoAnn McGinnis Johnson - Edited and Reworded By: Tom Dunn
Surnames & Locations
- Steve's
- Brenda's
Paternal Line:
SCHNURRER/SCHNURERfrom Reibers, Niederösterreich, Austria to Morrison County, Minnesota, USA
LITSCHAUER
from Arnolz, Pfaffenschlag, Niederösterreich, Austria.
GRUBER
from Austria to Dane Co., Wisconsin to Morrison County, Minnesota, USA
SCHLOSSER
from Austria to Dane Co., Wisconsin to Morrison County, Minnesota, USA
OTREMBA
from Schlesien, Germany to Morrison County, Minnesota, USA
Maternal Line:
PETERSfrom Poland/Germany to Rock County, Wisconsin to Floyd County, Iowa to Ramsey County, Minnesota, USA
SCHONSKY
from Poland/Germany to Rock County, Wisconsin to Floyd County, Iowa to Ramsey County, Minnesota, USA
BEALCKUS
from Lithuania / Russia to Rock County, Wisconsi to Floyd County, Iowa to Ramsey County, Minnesota, USA
NIETUS
from Lithuania / Russia to Rock County, Wisconsin
Paternal line:
MCKINNEYfrom KY > Ripley Co., IN > IL > Scotland Co, Missouri
PEDIGO
from MD > VA > Barren Co., KY > Scotland Co, Missouri
GARRISON
from NC/SC > GA > VA > Barren Co., KY > Scotland Co, Missouri
DAVIS
from KY > Boone County, IN > Knox County, Missouri
MIDDLEBROOK
from Yorkshire, England
NEWTON
from Birmingham, England > Ontario, Canada > Portage Co., WI to Ontonagon, Michigan
WILSON
from NJ > Bradford Co., PA > Chemung Co., NY > Portage Co., Wisconsin
Maternal line:
EK/TAMMIand related patronymics from Pernio, Turku-Pori, Finland to St. Louis County, Minnesota, USA
SIMOLA/JOLKKI
and related patronymics from Ypaja, Hame, Finland to St. Louis County, Minnesota, USA
SARJA/VANHATALO
and related patronymics from Tiensu, Lieto, Turku-Pori, Finland
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Please Help!
Did you know that valuable genealogical material may be rotting away in your closets, attics or garages.
Most people think these things are not valuable to anyone. But the things you may think are trash could be gold nuggets waiting to be discovered to those researching our family.
Old documents or newspaper clippings, that old letter from cousin Mabel, photos you have no idea who they're of, are just a few things that could help us. Please consider calling or writing before you throw something that might help us with our research..