Vaudine Cravey McKinney, 70, of Athens, died Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2008, at her home.

She was born in McMinn County and was a daughter of the late James Cravey and the late Alice McKenzie Cravey Davis. She was preceded in death by her stepfather, T.A. Davis; and one stepsister, Delores King. She grew up in Athens, where she graduated from McMinn County High School. She was also a graduate of Tennessee Wesleyan College, earning a degree in education. She started her teaching career at Idlewild Elementary and at First Baptist Church, where she taught nursery school. She spent the majority of her years teaching kindergarten at Niota Elementary School, from which she retired in 2001.

She was a member of Keith Memorial United Methodist Church during her childhood years and later joined First Baptist Church of Athens. She was presently a member of Keith Memorial United Methodist Church, where she was very active. She was a member of the Susanna Wesley Sunday School Class and was also a member of the Shepherd Ministry at the church. She loved the church and her church family. Her grandsons were the light of her life and brought much joy to her.

Survivors include her husband, Fred W. McKinney of Athens; twin daughters, Jan McKinney of Athens, and Fran Thompson and her husband, Roy Thompson, of Murfreesboro; one son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Amy McKinney of Athens; four grandsons, David Franklin Thompson, Matthew McKenzie Thompson and Benjamin Davis Thompson, all of Murfreesboro, and Bryce McKinney of Athens; one sister, Patti Blackett and her husband, Richard Choura, of Knoxville; and her special Japanese family, Hiroshi and Michiko Miyake, and their children, Momoka and Rintaro.

The family would like to express a special thank-you to Dr. Stephen Golder, Dr. Jitendra Gandhi, Mona Yeary and all the nurses at Parkridge Medical Center Oncology Floor, and a special thanks to Adventa Hospice of Athens.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Thursday at Keith Memorial United Methodist Church with the Rev. Mike Hubble and the Rev. Jason Gattis officiating. Burial will follow in Cedar Grove Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be David McKee, Carl Hutsell, Todd Mooneyham, Richard Choura, Robert Foster, David Thompson, Roy Thompson and Hiroshi Miyake.

The family will receive friends from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Keith Memorial United Methodist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 1, Athens, TN 37371-0001; or to Sarah Cannon Cancer Center, c/o Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation, Attn: Laura Robinson, 2333 McCallie Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37404.

Those unable to attend may send condolences to

mailto:condolences@laycock-hobbs.com