Dave E MCKinney

In Memory of

Dave MCKinney

May 29, 1949 - November 10, 2017
Obituary
Dave McKinney was born in Tucumcari, New Mexico on May 29, 1949 to Ray & Hazel McKinney. He passed away on November 10, 2017 in Fort Worth Texas. Dave loved his family, friends and enjoyed his career and working with Leather in the form of Boot and Shoe Repair to later a more artistic style of making Leather Roses and Crosses out of Boots. He also developed what he called his own style of "Wine Glass Holster". In the last years of his life he enjoyed going to different craft and wine festivals selling his wares to one and all.

In his early life Dave lived in Houston, Belton and Amarillo. Dave had two brothers and three sisters. Dave married the Love of His Life Judy Scott in September of 1969 and spent the next 48 years with her. They had two children Jenny Starr Troyer and Michael David McKinney. Dave was drafted into the United States Army in 1969 and served 2 years for his country. After the Army he worked several years and in 1974 decided to pursue an education at Texas State Technical Institute where he studied Shoe Repair and Boot Making under what became one of his friends and mentor Ted "Teddy Bear" Trulove. He worked alongside Ted and Dennis Cottle at TSTI and the trio wrote a book about "How to Make Western Boots" this book is now sold world wide. Dave became a teacher at TSTI for 10 years before the program closed in 1989. He kept in touch with many of his students to the end.

Dave's career after leaving TSTI changed to the business end and he owned Boot and Shoe Repair shops in Amarillo, Las Colinas and Arlington, Texas. He also traveled to many states fixing Shoe Shop Machinery, he loved to visit any shoe repair shop. After he retired from the Shops he began his stent of making Leather Roses, Crosses and Wine Glass Holsters.

He loved to spend as much time as he could with his family and usually made the trip at least once a month to Canyon to see his two Grandsons and would do just about anything for them. He also had a passion for 1965 Ford Mustangs and Loved to work on older cars. He could identify most older makes and loved taking a trip to Las Vegas and going through the Barrett Jackson Auto Auction and looking at many of the fine cars he admired. This also became one of his favorite things to watch on TV.

Dave is survived by his wife Judy in Aledo,Tx. Daughter Jenny and husband Bill Troyer, Grandsons Tyler and Dylan Troyer all of Canyon,TX.. Son Michael McKinney and Fiance Tara Stewart of Aledo, Tx. Step Mother Myrtle McKinney, Sister & Brother in law Melba & Richard Wheeler, Sister Debbie Dorsett, Sister in Law Linda McKinney and Pat McKinney along with numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his Father Ray McKinney, Mother Hazel McKinney, Sister Elva McCreary, and Brothers Jerry McKinney and Don McKinney.

Visitation on Sunday November the 19 from 3:00 - 5:00 at Griggs Schooler Gordon Funeral Home 5400 Bell Ave, Amarillo, Tx 79109. Funeral will be on Monday November 20, 2017 at 11:00 at St. Ann's Catholic Church, 605 38th St. Canyon, Tx 79015 with Interment to follow at Memory Gardens.