Delora Mae "Dee" McKinnis

Delora “Dee” McKinnis died peacefully August 26 in Grapevine, Texas, six days after her 82 nd birthday, with her devoted husband, daughter and son by her side.
Dee was born Delora Mae Cathey on August 20, 1941 in Ellsworth, Kansas to the late Chester D. and Wanda Mae Kelso Cathey. She graduated from Lyons High School in 1959 and married her high school sweetheart, Roy McKinnis, on August 13, 1960. They lived in the original McKinnis wheat farm family home in Lyons, KS, and started their family with son Mark Allen, born in 1963, followed by daughter Debra Lynne in 1964. In 1968, the couple moved to Tulsa to pursue a better life. Dee worked for Southwestern Bell, first in the repair department, and then as an Information Operator for her last five years. She retired in 1999 after 25 years. During retirement, she volunteered at the Tulsa Margaret Hudson School for Teen Mothers Library where her legacy was helping to organize, categorize and shelve books. She befriended many teens and helped them build a library to assist in their new roles as teen moms while still students trying to finish
high school. Dee cherished her triple Scottish-Celtic heritage of McKinnis, Cathey and Kelso, delving into family history and heritage books. She and Roy participated in the Scottish games in Tulsa, Arlington-Dallas, San Antonio, Tucson, Phoenix, Colorado, Kansas, Connecticut, Atlanta, Nova Scotia, Scotland, and the renowned Grandfather Mountain Games in North Carolina. Dee really enjoyed traveling and meeting people at all the Scottish Games! In 2009 Dee and Roy moved to Keller, Texas to be closer to their family. She and Roy continued to travel and enjoy retirement. Dee also volunteered at a local senior citizen home, assisting with crafts and special projects. In early 2021 the couple moved to senior living in nearby Grapevine, where they made many friends among residents and staff, and enjoyed life without maintaining a house and large yard. Naturally, Dee helped update and organize the center’s library and also helped with crafts and jewelry making.
Dee is survived by Roy, her loving husband of 63 years; as well as son, Mark Allen (Berenice) of Merritt Island, Florida; daughter, Debra “Debbie” Lynne (Mark) Lapham of Grapevine; six grandchildren, Taylor (Tierrani Noel) Lapham of Grapevine, Casey Lapham of New York City, Joseph and Lauren McKinnis of Tulsa, Janice and Ethan McKinnis of Merritt Island, Fl; brother, Thomas (Mary Ann) Cathey of Wichita, Kansas; brothers-in law, Steve McKinnis of Tucson, Arizona and James McKinnis of Denver, Colorado, and sister-in-law, Bonnie Hazard of Phoenix.
At this time there will be no funeral, but a family memorial may be held at a later date. Dee’s ashes will stay with Roy until his time to go with her to their burial site back home in Lyons, Kansas.

Dee’s smile, love and wit will be dearly missed.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Delora Mae "Dee" McKinnis, please visit our floral store.