RJ McKinney

RJ McKinney, 87, passed away Friday, Jan. 27, 2017, at Saint Louis University Medical Center.

He was born Aug. 5, 1929, in Advance, Missouri, to the late Rube and Aria Bird McKinney.

RJ was married to Mildred Christine Thompson on Aug. 28, 1948, in Paducah, Kentucky. She preceded him in death March 24, 1993. He married Vicki Kay Connell on June 8, 2001.

Survivors include his wife, Vicki McKinney of Cape Girardeau; daughter, Debra McKinney (Mark) Kaiser of Jefferson City, Missouri; and daughter-in-law, Sonya McKinney of Austin, Texas. He enjoyed four grandchildren, Lauren Christine Kaiser (Marty) Johnson, Alexa Starr (Riley) Percivill, Taylor Bleu (Alexander) Smith and Mark Stewart Kaiser Jr., and four great-grandchildren, Kadah Belle McKinney, Miles Alan Johnson, Tuscany James Smith and Macklin David Johnson. He also was survived by Vicki's children and grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his son, David Kent McKinney.

RJ graduated from Advance High School in 1946. Upon graduation, he enrolled in Paducah Community College in Paducah, where he graduated with an accounting degree.

He was employed with Jim Wilson Co. in Cape Girardeau from 1950 until he retired in 1997. He served as company president from 1987 until he was elected chairman of the board in 1995.

RJ was very involved in the Cape Girardeau community. He had been a member of Grace United Methodist Church since 1958.

RJ joined the Cape Girardeau Lions Club in 1971, serving as chairman of various committees and as secretary, vice president and president.

He was appointed to the Cape Girardeau Planning and Zoning Commission, where he served three terms as chairman. He also served on the Cape Girardeau Long Range Comprehensive Planning Committee, the board of directors for the Cape Girardeau Executives Club and the Cape Girardeau County Board of Park Commissioners.

RJ was elected to the Southeast Missouri Hospital Foundation Board of Directors in 1996 and served in numerous roles, including treasurer and on the executive committee.

RJ was a member of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce for over 50 years, serving on various committees and the board of directors.

He served on the board of directors of the Greater Cape Girardeau Development Corporation, the Colonial Cape Foundation and the Community Counseling Center, where he also served on the Executive Committee.

He was selected to serve on the board of Southeast Missouri Crime Stoppers Inc. and was appointed to the Center Junction Board of Directors and the Cape Girardeau County Transit Authority.

In 2001, he was elected executive director of The Guardian's Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Family Relief Fund, Inc.

Funeral services will be under the direction of Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, also at the Mount Auburn location. Burial will follow at Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Feed My Starving Children at LaCroix Church in Cape Girardeau or a charity of the donor's choice.

Online condolences may be made at fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.