Delores Mae McKinney

Delores Mae McKinney of Springfield died at 5:10 am, Friday, February 23, 2018 at Sunny Acres in Petersburg. She was born in Morrisonville to Paul and Edith Beaty and raised on a farm there. Her childhood was spent playing with her siblings and other cousins who also lived on surrounding farms. Delores enjoyed telling stories about walking to the rural area schoolhouses especially in the winters. She took piano lessons for 4 years in Morrisonville, Nokomis, Taylorville and Witt. Her mother, aunts, and members of her family loved gathering around the piano with her and singing songs especially from the Church hymnal.

In high school Delores played the alto saxophone in the Morrisonville High School marching band and also was the piano accompanist for the school chorus, operettas, other musicals and activities at the school. Even after she graduated from high school, she returned and continued to accompany band students, and other musicals at school.

Delores worked at the Illinois State Library for 10 years and the State of Illinois, Department of Personnel, Examining Unit for 32 years retiring in February 2001.
She was a member of the Sangamon Co. Farm Bureau, Sangamon Co. Association for Home & Community Education-Northernaire’s. Unit, the Washington Park Botanical Garden, Springfield Zoological Society, the AARP, and was a sustaining member of the Republican Party. She was a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church, and had been a substitute Sunday school teacher. She was a member of the United Methodist Church Women’s Organization, and a Church circle member.

Survivors: daughter, Debra L. Halbert (Kevin) of St. Charles, Illinois, two sons, DeWayne L. McKinney and Daniel L. McKinney of Springfield; two sisters, Ruth Beaty of Springfield and Judie Beaty of Taylorville, IL; one brother, Jim Beaty of Morrisonville; several cousins, nieces and nephews and an aunt and uncle.

Mrs. McKinney’s life was her children and grandchildren. She also enjoyed writing poetry, reading and writing articles in general. Her grandchildren who she loved very much are Deidra (Bob) Nichols, Kristin Halbert and Tyler (Elise) Halbert, Ian and Cody McKinney, and Drew Elizabeth McKinney. There are also four great grandchildren, Victoria, Zachary, Brayden, and Max Nichols.

Delores has requested in lieu of flowers please, memorials may be given to the charity of your choice or the First United Methodist Church in Springfield.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Paul and Edith Beaty, a brother, Donald Beaty of Van Nuys, CA and two sisters, Alice German of Springfield and Carol Ann Lyerla of Taylorville.

Visitation: 10 – 11 am, Friday, March 2, 2018 at Staab Funeral Home, Springfield.

Funeral Service: 11 am, Friday, March 2, 2018 at Staab Funeral Home – Springfield with Pastor Mike Whitaker officiating. Burial will follow at Morrisonville Cemetery.

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