Mr. Loyal Keith McKinney, age 79 a lifelong resident of De Queen, Arkansas, passed from this life on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at Christus St. Michael Health System in Texarkana, Texas.

Keith was born on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1946, in De Queen, Arkansas to Loyal Burdett and Opal Irene McRae McKinney. Keith was baptized around the age of 12 and was a member of the De Queen Church of Christ and later years attended faithfully. He attended De Queen School systems, but hating school he quit in 1962, 9th grade and shortly afterwards left home to work at the racetracks in Hot Springs, Arkansas. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1966 for about 2 years, from New Years Eve to February 1968, spending 14 months in South Korea where he was in Strategic Communications Command with top secret clearance. He retired from the D&E Railroad after working there for 43 years as an Engineer. During this time, he attended Horse Shoeing School in 1972 for 8 weeks in Sherry, Oklahoma and later went to Equine Dental School in Waverly, Nebraska. Keith loved people and enjoyed working on horses just to visit with friends. He had a lifetime love for photography and spent 35 years rodeoing. He loved to steer wrestle, and at one time was a rodeo clown. He married the mother of his 3 children, Carolyn Rowe, who he met while in service, in 1969 in Juarez, Mexico. Keith has a heart of gold and would give you his last penny. He always had a good story to tell about his life, dancing lessons, horses, etc., and loved to counsel all about drinking using his 30 days in rehab for example. He said he married the love of his life on July 5, 1996, after six years of wooing her.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and one son, Kevin Burdett McKinney, great grandson Cashton Harp and a niece, Stephanie Murphy. 

Keith is survived by his wife, Kathryn Lyn Davis McKinney, a daughter, Kelly Rae and Bo Randall Pugh of Umpire, Arkansas; a son, Brian Lee and Rumi McKinney of Gallatin, Tennessee; two bonus sons, Kevin Michael and Connie Harp, Kelly Todd and Blaire Harp, all of De Queen. He was fondly called Poo and Papaw Poo by his grandchildren, Nevada Decosta, Cameron, Aspen and Presley Pugh, Colton, Dawson(Leigha), Hayden(Miriam), Weston(Audrey), Laura Mae, Henry Harp, Halle(Brock)Harp Patterson, Marissa, Aidan, and Nick; his great grandchildren, Brooklyn Pugh, Landon, Blaze and Wren Harp, Arabella, Xio, Ava, Leila, Rylan, and Jayce; a sister, Nedra and John Frady of Texarkana; one niece, Pam Frady; along with a host of cousins and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services for Mr. Keith McKinney will be held 10:00 A.M., Saturday, June 6, 2026, in the Chandler Funeral Home Chapel with Toney Stowers, Minister and Lyndon Fenton officiating. Burial will follow in the Chapel Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held 6:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M., Friday, June 5th, 2026, at the funeral home. You may leave an online condolence at www.chandlerfuneral.com, or you may visit Chandler Funeral Home on Facebook.