Betty Mckinney

Betty McKinney, age 87 of West, passed away late Sunday evening, September 6, 2009 at West rest Haven in West. Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at the First Baptist Church in West, with Dr. John Crowder officiating. Private graveside services will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in Waco. The family will receive visitors from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Betty was born November 13, 1921 in West, the daughter of Louis and Frances (Gajdosek) Danek. She attended school in West. Betty was a professional seamstress working for Lorch Manufacturing in West for over 20 years before retiring in 1963. She was a longtime faithful member of the First Baptist Church in West, where she formerly served as a children's Sunday School teacher and director. She loved her church dearly having served as a past president of the Albertine Society and Womens Missionary Union, visiting with those who were sick and homebound, serving on the Building and Grounds Committee, as well as tending to the flower beds. Betty also loved her community; She was a member of S.P.J.S.T. Lodge #6, chairman of the Cystic Fibrosis Drives, March of Dimes Drive, and American Cancer Society Drives. In 1991, she was honored with the Volunteer Citizen of the Year by the West Chamber of Commerce. Betty particularly enjoyed gardening and baking, especially cakes and sweets and giving them to friends, as well as traveling to concerts and listening to gospel music services. Her parents and a brother, Louis Danek preceded her in death. Survivors include a daughter, Anne McKinney of Sacramento, CA; a few other relatives; and a host of friends in central Texas. Active pallbearers are: Steve McKinney, Cody McKinney, Wayne McKinney, Reggie Whalen, Steve Mellgren, Mike Nelson, Wayne Leek, Ken Zahirniak, Oliver O'Brien and Jim Hare. Honorary pallbearers are: Jake Tucker, Bacil Tanner, Dr. Walter Mellgren, Dr. Walt Mellgren Jr, Frank Nemec, Toby Tobola, Jimmy Bilbo, Paul Hare, Gary Ellis, Larry Payne, and Robert Payne. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of West, West Volunteer Ambulance Association, or the American Cancer Society.