Grace Viola McKinley left us on April 29, 2018, to meet her Savior, and join her beloved husband, Robert Eugene "Bob" McKinley, and son, Robert Edwards McKinley.

Grace was born on February 25, 1932, to Joseph William and Regina Gertrude Edwards and welcomed by her brother Harold Edwards in the Borough of Richmond (Staten Island), New York. She was a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church or as she would say, "a cradle Episcopalian".  Grace grew up and was married on Staten Island, but left several years later for Chicago.  After spending 13 years in Illinois, she moved to Spring, Texas, where she spent 40 years.  Her final destination was Wilmington, North Carolina.

Grace was a faithful Christian who spent her time worshiping, serving, and glorifying Christ throughout her life.  She graduated from St. John's Villa Academy, a Roman Catholic girls' high school, where she participated in several clubs including the glee club.  She would continue her singing in church choirs with her favorite hymn being Amazing Grace.  Through a young adult Christian group, she met her soulmate, Bob, who she told her mother she was destined to marry after the first introduction.  Grace taught Sunday school to the very youngest Christians, assisted with many church functions, and supported organizations such as Tomball Emergency Assistance Ministries with her time and talent.  She especially loved traveling with her church friends whether it was day trips or longer ones in the United States and abroad.

Grace was a loving wife and mother who put her family first, was very good with numbers, loved to travel, and was known for being sweet.   Grace left a career with New York Telephone to raise her children and to live in different parts of the country in support of Bob.  She traveled with Bob both domestically and abroad.  Her husband and family were her passion, and although she loved her children, she adored her grandchildren.  Grace was quick to make friends and always remembered a person's name after meeting only once.  Although she was known to be a talker, she was also a listener and felt it was her mission to make people feel at ease and important. Grace's high school yearbook states that one of her distinguishing qualities is her sweetness and that she "kept a large group of friends."  That did not change over the years and she even continued her mission by using her sweetness with her hospice workers in her last days.

The two activities that Grace especially enjoyed were going to the movies and eating at restaurants.  She often told stories of spending entire afternoons at the movies when she was young, and she was quite an expert on what, today, are old films and the actors and actresses that starred in them.  In later years, she enjoyed taking her grandchildren to the movies or watching them on TV.  Her knowledge continued to grow and she amazed more than one person with her mastery of movie trivia, and connected with even more people over her love of film.  Going to eat at a favorite restaurant was an event for Grace, especially when the grandchildren were involved.  She loved to hear of their activities, accomplishments and challenges.  The restaurant scene was also a favorite pastime after church where she visited with many friends.

Grace will be missed by all who knew her, but especially her family.  She is survived by her daughter, Karen Marie McKinley Head and her son-in-law, Jerald Head, and her six grandchildren, Elyse Marie Head Maupin-Thomas (husband Hunter), Jerald Evan Head, Erik Robert Head, Kathryn Nicole McKinley, Emilie Elizabeth McKinley Covert (husband Henry) and Sara Michelle McKinley.  She will also be missed by Carol and Ken Fraser, her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, as well as many nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 2, at Klein Memorial Park, 32529 State Highway 249, Pinehurst, TX 77362.

Grace requests that, in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Tomball, Texas.