Mary Gay McKinney

Published 12:40 pm Monday, February 24, 2025

Mary Gay Grindstaff McKinney, 81, Elizabethton, passed away Saturday, February 22, 2025, in Signature Health Care, Greeneville. She was born July 16, 1943, in Elizabethton to the late Floyd and Addie Dunlap Grindstaff. She was a graduate of Unaka High School. She was a secretary at Banks and Banks, Attorney at Law, for several years. She retired from the Public Defender’s Office after several years.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Jimmy McKinney, who passed away January 20, 2013, and a brother, Jimmy Grindstaff. She was a member of Valley Forge Free Will Baptist Church.

Survivors include her brother, Jerry (Teresa) Grindstaff; one niece, Adrianne (Brian) Hatley; two nephews, Jeremy (Sarah) Grindstaff and James (Christina) Grindstaff; her great-nieces and nephews, Taylor Grindstaff, Heather Morris, Josh Grindstaff, Jack Grindstaff and Addie Grindstaff; and her great-great-niece, Aubrey Morris. Her special friends include Lisa Nidiffer and Cookie Smith.

A graveside service will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 26, 2025, in Happy Valley Memorial Park with Pastor Randy Johnson and Pastor Mark Potter officiating. Active pallbearers, who are requested to assemble at the funeral home at 2 p.m. Wednesday, will be Ronnie Hurley, James Grindstaff, Jeremy Grindstaff, Joshua Grindstaff, Terry Morris and Brian Hatley. Honorary pallbearers will be John Banks, Johnny Holder and Dean Grindstaff.

The family would like to express a special thank-you to the employees of Signature Health Care of Greeneville for the excellent care she received. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday prior to the graveside service. Condolences may be sent to the family at our website, www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.

Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the McKinney family.