Fred Edsyl Elmore “Freddie” McKinney, much loved wife of Lloyd B. McKinney (Mac) and daughter of Albert and Rachel Elmore, passed from this life in the early hours of December 31, the last day in 2018. She was the youngest child of eight children with six sisters and one brother and the last to join her siblings in heaven.
The family lived in Blum, Texas, and their father was the local postmaster in town. Freddie, born on July 25, 1920, was named after her mother’s favorite younger brother, Fred Bennett, and always had to explain her legal name, which was Fred!
As a young woman, Freddie was working in Washington DC when the United States entered World War II. She was courted by Mac, a young Army Air Corp soldier from Midland, Texas, and they married in 1942. After the war, they moved to McCamey where Freddie ran a children’s clothing store and Mac had a jewelry store in downtown McCamey. Mac later became McCamey City Manager. Freddie and Mac lived in McCamey for nearly 50 years and raised their son, Lloyd B. McKinney, Jr. “Tony” there.
Freddie had many friends in McCamey and enjoyed working in the community and on community projects. She enjoyed the people of West Texas and made many friends that spanned generations. One of her favorite and oldest friends was Wanda Comstock. She and Mac later followed Wanda and retired to San Angelo, Texas, where Mac passed in 2008. Freddie moved to Hemet, California, in 2014 to live her golden years near her son and was much loved at her assisted living center.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Kate, grandson Seth, and 2 great grandchildren. She was a dynamic woman, wife, mother and friend, and will be sorely missed.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 12, 2019 at the Blum Cemetery in Blum, Texas.