Nov. 25, 2009 — Jack Douglas McKinney was a man admired by those who knew him and will always be remembered for his service to the Grayson Fire Department.
The 67-year-old Grayson man passed away Nov. 18 following a brief illness. As a minister, McKinney served as Chaplin for the fire department since 1991, said Deputy Chief Eddie Rucker.
“He later got involved in fire service and was a ranking captain at the time of his death,” Rucker commented Tuesday. “Jack was a good fellow and always kind and thoughtful to others. He would help anyone with problems they might have and when we had fires and a family would lose their home, he would do what ever he could to get them clothes, food and a place to stay.”
After serving in Vietnam, McKinney answered the call in 1979 to preach. He was the former pastor for Hilltop Community Church in Lewis County and also the Lower Stinson Community Church and then pastored for the Coalton Community Church, as well.
McKinney was a member and Chaplin of the Carter County Firefighters Association and member of the National Federation for Chaplains. In fact, he received the Firefighter of the Year award from the Grayson Area Chamber of Commerce in 1993.
McKinney also served as a Sunday school teacher for the Grayson Freewill Baptist Church and was a member of the church’s advisory board.
Rucker said all who knew him would certainly miss McKinney around the firehouse.
“He was just a great man that cared for everyone,” Rucker added. “I know all the firefighters will remember him as a person who did everything he could to help others.”
The Grayson Fire Department along with many other firehouse members across the area gathered in Grayson Saturday to honor McKinney with a funeral procession to the Rose Hill gravesite
The precession included numerous firefighters and other service workers who traveled by fire trucks, ambulances and other vehicles along U.S. 60 to Ashland.
At the entrance to the gravesite, an American Flag was hoisted into the air as the long line of friends and family members traveled under it to where their friend and loved one was laid to rest.
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