Leland Dewayne Mckinley

Leland DeWayne McKinley, son of the late Daniel Warner and Maude (Armstrong) McKinley, was born on October 2, 1932 in Dora, Missouri and passed away on Monday, May 28, 2012 in the Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. He was 79 years of age.

Leland grew up in Ozark and Douglas Counties. He served his country in the United States Air Force. He was united in marriage to Wanda Clark on June 4, 1951 in Mtn. Home, Arkansas. Three children were born to this union. They moved their family to Wichita, Kansas where they lived for nineteen years, and later moved back to the Mtn. Grove area in 1973.

Leland and Wanda owned and operated a janitorial business for several years. Wanda passed away on December 16, 2003.

In July 2004, Leland married Vineta (Halliburton) Coday at the Church of God in Mtn. Grove.

Leland enjoyed taking care of his chickens and rabbits and was known in the community for being an avid gardener. At one time, he was known to have planted up to 300 tomato plants in his garden. He had over 100 different varieties of tomatoes that he enjoyed growing and sharing with those around him. He sold his produce with an honor system by setting out items and a money container. Those in the community could go by his house and pick up whatever vegetables he had available and leave money in the container for him. This went on for many years. Everyone looked forward to his vegetables and his plants that he would sell and share.

Leland was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. He was a good husband and father who was always there for his family. He will be truly missed by those who knew and loved him.

Besides his parents and his first wife, he was preceded in death by three brothers: Daniel McKinley, Dean McKinley, and Delbert McKinley.

Leland is survived by his loving wife: Vineta McKinley of their home; two sons: Daniel McKinley and his wife, Debbie, and David McKinley and his wife, Sherry, all of Mtn. Grove; one daughter: Lila Ashlock and her husband, Greg, of Springfield, Missouri; four grandchildren: Chrystal, Tyler, Titus, Cassie; five great-grandchildren; and a host of other relatives, friends, and neighbors.