Thelma Lucille Mckinney

Monroe, Utah - Thelma was born August 28, 1914 in Green River, Utah, a daughter of Orson William and Della Alpha Brundage Adams. She was the third of five children who were Orson, George, Marion and Della LaPreal. Thelma was left an orphan when here parents died in 1926. Her father was killed in an accident in the consumers Mine above Price and her mother died three weeks later of complications from a ruptured appendix. The five children were raised by their elderly Grandmother in Duchesne, Utah. Thelma went to visit relatives in Colorado in 1931 and while she was there, she met Jessie James (Jim) McKinney. After she returned to Utah, Mr. McKinney came to visit and they were married August 15, 1931 in Duchesne. After their marriage they moved to Colorado. The couple had three children. They lived in Carbondale, Glenwood Springs and Leadville, Colorado. In 1950 they bought a 160 acre ranch in Redstone, Colorado. Thelma really like ranch life and worked along side her husband, caring for the family, plus putting up vegetables out of the garden and making jams and jellies. Thelma loved to hunt and fish. She always told everyone how she killed 15 deer with 16 shots. After Jim was too old to run the ranch, they moved to New Castle, CO. Then in 1989 the couple moved to Monroe, Utah. Jim passed away from complications fo Alzheimer’s Disease in February of 1990. After Jim’s passing, Thelma enjoyed years of gardening and friends in Monroe. Some of her family followed her to Monroe to be close to her and help with shopping, since she never had a driver’s license. She loved having her grandchildren and great-grandchildren around her. They called her Granny Thelma and she was always happy to see them. Thelma was always proud of her pioneer heritage. Her grandparents were some of the first people to settle the Utah Valleys. She lived a long, hard life. She was always ready to help someone or just feed you a hot meal. She liked to cook and bake, which up until the last few months, she always had the smell fo hot bread or a cake coming from her kitchen. Those things will be missed as much as she will, by all that knew and loved her. She is survived by her three children: Glenda and Charles Piffer, James Larry and Eileen McKinney, all of Grand Junction, CO; Marla and Roger Hall of Monroe; 7 grandchildren, Kip McKinney, Cindy and Kent Stewart of Glenwood Springs, CO; Dan McDonald of Silt, CO; Rollo D. (Deceased) and Nicole McDonald of Italy; Ron and Mary Hall of Richfield, Utah; Roger and Stephanie Hall II, Rhea and Mike Sattley, Rodney Hall Sr, all of Monroe, Utah; 14 great-grandchildren, Destiny, Jessie and Justin Sattley, all of Monroe; Kayla, Ron, Daryn and Tiffany Hall all of Richfield; Ashley and Roger Hall III, Rodney Hall II, all of Monroe; Jamie Lovell of Des Moines, IA; Danette Stewart of Glenwood Springs, CO; Joy, and Jenny McDonald of Italy; and 1 great-great-grandson, Justin McDonald of Italy; a brother, Marion T. Adams of Monroe. Thelma was preceded in death by her husband, Jim.; a daughter, Cheryl LaPreal; two brothers and one sister: Orson Adams, George Adams, Della LaPreal Whitbeck; her parents, a grandson and one niece. The family would like to thank all the staff at the Richfield Care Center, Sevier Valley Hospital, plus all the Home Health personnel, Home Nurse, Six Counties Elderly Care Workers and all the friends who have given time and care to Thelma during her long illness. Again, thanks to all, we appreciate you more than you know. Funeral services for Thelma will be held Saturday, September 2, 2006 at 3:00 P.M. in the Monroe 1st LDS Ward Chapel, located at 49 East and 200 North in Monroe. Friends may call for viewing at the ward chapel in Monroe, Saturday afternoon from 1:00 to 2:30 prior to the services. Grave side services and burial will be Tuesday, September 5, 2006 at 11:00 A.M. In the Carbondale, Colorado cemetery under the care of the Springer Turner Funeral Home of Richfield, Salina and Gunnison, Utah