Aaron Lee Mckinney

Aaron Lee McKinney passed away on July 16, 2014 near Hoxie, Kansas at the age of 33. He was born to Leroy Dean and Mary Louise (Creighton) McKinney on March 21, 1981 in Garden City, Kansas. Aaron grew up in Junction City, Kansas and graduated from Junction City High School with the Class of 1999. He attended and was on the Dean’s List at Hutchinson Community College, Newman University, and Wichita State University where he received his Master’s Degree and Physician Assistant Certification. On August 9, 2003 he married Tanya Diane Eckhoff in Hutchinson, Kansas. They were blessed with three children, Colin Dean, Ella Opal, and Jackson Lee McKinney. Aaron was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, the Boy Scouts of America, the Kansas Academy of Physician Assistants, and the American Academy of Physician Assistants. Throughout his career he worked as an emergency medical technician and fireman in Junction City and Wichita, a clinic and emergency room physician assistant in Atwood and St. Francis, and an emergency room physician assistant in Sedan and Hoxie. From hunting, soccer, running marathons to training for the Ironman Triathlon and running Pikes Peak, Aaron enjoyed outdoor activities and maintaining good physical condition. Aaron was of sound mind and body, and had a heart and spirit to match. Aaron was a very active member in his church from serving a 2 year mission in the Las Vegas West Mission, working with the youth, and serving as a clerk. He earned his Eagle Scout Badge at the young age of 16, was a frequent Red Cross blood donor, and was known to be very caring and compassionate by patients and co-workers alike. But above all, the love of his life was his wife, children, family, and friends. Celebrating accomplishments with spaghetti dinners, traveling and exploring new places, and delighting in his nightly bowl of Blue Bell ice cream, were just some of the ways life and love were shared together. Left to cherish Aaron’s memory are his wife Tanya; children, Colin, Ella, and Jackson McKinney; mother, Mary McKinney of Kincaid; father and mother-in-law, Barry and Brenda Eckhoff, of Hutchinson; brothers, David and wife Tonia of LaCygne, Shawn and wife Jamie of Osage City, and Nathan of Kincaid; sisters, Christie Blue of Junction City, and Suzanne Anderson and husband Kendell of Tulsa, Oklahoma; brother-in-laws, Marvin Blue of St. John, Barry Eckhoff Jr. and wife Sara of Hutchinson, and Cody Eckhoff and wife Camille of Hutchinson; sister-in-law, Melissa Scoville and husband Chad of Salina; nieces and nephews, Shelby Eaks (Tim), Sable, Sadie, and Sarah, Shawn, Jr. (Ashleigh), Christopher (Stephanie), Ashton, Brandan, Tyler, McKenzie, Logan, & Payton McKinney; Bradley, Zachary, and Corey Blue; Kendell Jr, Diamond, and Mariah Anderson; Toby McKinney; Colston, Maclaren, Porter, and Rogan Scoville; Shelby and Justin, and Maggie Eckhoff; Bentley, Annalee, and Callie Eckhoff. Great nieces and nephew, Destiene Eaks, Ireland, and Dean McKinney. Aaron was preceded in death by his father, Leroy McKinney and niece, Braylen McKinney. A man of faith, hope, and love, Aaron leaves a legacy that has touched the lives of countless people. This side of heaven we may never know the full impact of his life, that was taken from us much too soon, but we look forward with anticipation to the day we will reunite and rejoice with him in Celestial Glory.