Funeral services for Mrs. Beryl Barnett McKinney were held Tuesday afternoon in the First Methodist Church, conducted by the pastor, Rev. Pete Robertson, assisted by Rev. Tom Haley and Rev. James C. Coffey. Mrs. McKinney had been in declining health for several years, and passed away in the Wilson Jones Hospital in Sherman Monday morning at 5:45 in her sleep. Active pallbearers were Henry Hynds, Robert Fielder, Byron Whitaker, Floyd Carter, T.M. Hughes, Jr., Robert H. Hynds, John K. Hynds and Gene Ross. Honorary pallbearers were Alfred Baldwin, E.L. Avent, Dr. F.M. Sporer, Zane Emerson and Hendrix Lewis. Interment was in the Van Alstyne Cemetery, under the direction of Flesher Funeral Home.
Rev. Robertson paid a glowing tribute to the long and useful life of Mrs. McKinney, stating that she had left a spiritual legacy to the people of her church, her community, and the district.
Mrs. McKinney was born at Weston on April 18, 1893, a daughter of the late W.T. and Leland Roland Barnett. She was united in marriage with Claude A. McKinney in Corsicana on Sept. 10, 1913. In 1963, Mr. and Mrs. McKinney celebrated their golden anniversary. They lived their entire married life in the home they built here following their marriage.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Claudine Garrison; by two grandsons, Pat and Mike Garrison; by one niece, Mrs. Jack Sims of Hillsboro; by two foster daughters, Miss Jessie Sim of Denton and Mrs. Rex Cruse, Sr. of San Antonio.
Mrs. McKinney graduated from Van Alstyne High School, and attended the University of Texas. A long time member of the First Methodist Church here, she taught Sunday School classes for 35 years, was organist for 15 years, during which she taught several others to play the organ. she was president of the Woman's Society of Christian Service for four years, was chairman of the North Texas School of Missions for four years, served as secretary of Mission Education for four years, and was a delegate to the national meeting in Hill Falls, Pa. in 1958, at the close of the School of Missions at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, she was presented by the Conference a Special Life Membership Pin. She served as president and in other capacities of the Van Alstyne Parent-Teacher Association, was president of the Second District of the Texas Congress of Parents and Teachers. She was a long time member of The Culture Club, serving as president and various other offices.She served on the board of the Grayson County Chapter of the American Red Cross.
 In 1950 she was selected by a secret vote of the members of the Van Alstyne Chamber of Commerce as "The Outstanding Citizen of Van Alstyne" for that year.She was a member of the Chamber for many years. A former teacher, she devoted much of her time in private tutoring. She served as secretary of the Retail Merchants Association of Van Alstyne until her demise. She was Van Alstyne correspondent for the Sherman Democrat for over 22 years and of the Denison Herald for the past two years.

Sherman Democrat, 1965
Van Alstyne Reporter 22 Years Dies

Van Alstyne - Mrs. Claude McKinney, 71, of Van Alstyne, who was a long-time church worker and correspondent for the Sherman Democrat for 22 years, died at 5:45 a.m. Monday in a Sherman hospital.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at First Methodist Church here, and burial will be in Van Alstyne Cemetery.
The family will be at Flesher Funeral Home from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday.
Methodist ministers Pete Robertson, Tom Haley and James Colley will conduct services.
Mrs. McKinney was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.F. Barnett, and she married Claude McKinney on Sept. 10, 1913. She was a member of the Van Alstyne First Methodist Church where she was president of the Methodist Women's Society of Christian Service for four years.
She taught Sunday School here for 35 years and was the church organist for 15 years. She was also active in missionary work, and was chairman of the North Texas School of Missions for four years. She was also president of the Van Alstyne PTA for two years and was district PTA recording secretary two years.
She also participated in civic organizations such as Camp Fire Girls, Red Cross and projects for underprivileged children.
Mrs. McKinney is survived by her husband of Van Alstyne, a daughter, Mrs. Claudine Garrison of Van Alstyne, two grandsons, Pat Garrison and Mike Garrison, both of Van Alstyne; a niece, Mrs. Jack Sims of Hillsboro; and two foster daughters, Miss Jessie Sim of Denton and Mrs. Rex Crust of san Antonio.