Steven King McKinney

Steven King McKinney passed away peacefully on September 6, 2019. He was born in November 1939, in Siloam Springs, Ark., to C. Franklin (Frank) and Allene King McKinney. After graduating from Siloam Springs High School, he attended University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, and graduated with a B.B.A. He then went into the U.S. Army and received an honorable discharge for medical reasons after becoming a Type 1 diabetic while serving. He then went to law school at the University of Arkansas and received his J.D. and later his L.L.M. in Taxation at New York University. He worked in Washington, D.C., for many years at the Civil Aeronautics Board with the federal government. He then moved back to the area and practiced law in Oklahoma City, Okla., at Monnet Hayes Bullis Thompson & Edwards. After retiring, he moved back to Siloam Springs. He came out of retirement for a few years and practiced at the Elrod Law Firm. He then fully retired from the practice of law and decided to fill his days for several years while taking English Literature classes at John Brown University where he pursued his love of reading and writing poetry and short stories. Steve did not suffer fools gladly but he was also incredibly generous to people for whom he cared. He loved his dogs, Chu, Beauregard (Beau) and Robert. He was an avid fly fisherman and went bird hunting for as long as he was physically able. He also played the saxophone for many years. At one point or another, he was a collector of art, books, model trains and bamboo fly fishing rods. Steve was predeceased by both of his parents. He is survived by his twin brother, Clay McKinney, and his niece, Dara McKinney (Michael Steinzig), both of Los Alamos, N.M., his former spouse, Susan Finney, of Houston, Texas, with whom he maintained a close friendship, and numerous cousins and friends in Northwest Arkansas and beyond, including Suellen Coleman Chase and Sally Hensley both of Siloam Springs, Robert (Bob) McKinney of Bentonville, Martha Nan Medley of Gainesville, Virginia, and Randall (Randy) Hodges of Dana Point, Callif. A special thank you to Charles and Jennifer Pastoor, and their children, for the love and kindnesses shown to Steve after he was first a student at JBU and then as a close family friend. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your local humane society, the American Diabetes Association or your favorite charity. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on October 5 at Grace Episcopal Church in Siloam Springs, Ark.