McKinney

Gary Stephen McKinney, 55, of St. Petersburg, Clarion County, died Tuesday at UPMC Hospital in Pittsburgh.

Born June 17, 1952, at Allegheny Valley Hospital in Tarentum, he was the son of Adean Ruth Willman McKinney of Brookville and the late Karle D. McKinney.

He was a 1970 graduate of Allegheny-Clarion Valley High School and earned a bachelor's degree in education from Clarion State College in 1975.

He owned and operated Allegheny-Valley Memorials since 1984 and took great pride in his work, often meeting with families in their home to customize each monument to their specific needs.

Gary was most definitely a unique and one-of-a-kind person. When he was a boy, he would travel the woods around St. Petersburg and collect all sorts of items. He had a fascination with history and the Civil War, especially one soldier, J.J. Ashbaugh. In fact, in those woods, he found J.J.'s Civil War pin.

Mr. McKinney resurrected Clarion County's oldest piece of firefighting equipment, a hose cart rotting under an old tree; and it can be seen at the museum in St. Petersburg.

Gary developed a love of local oil history from his boyhood adventures. He collected pictures, books and memorabilia his entire life. The results of his work and much research are the three editions of his book "Oil on the Brain." His latest book, published in December 2007, tells of the oil boom and excitement in Clarion, Butler and Armstrong counties.

Gary was a Boy Scout and earned the distinction of Eagle Scout in 1967.

He was a member of the St. Petersburg United Methodist Church, where he enjoyed attending Sunday school. He also was a member of the Camby Lodge 520 F&AM of St. Petersburg.

He was the mayor of St. Petersburg for years and was always interested in politics and definitely cast his votes with convictions.

Some of his other interests were in his collection of Mustang cars, antiques, dogs and his "Cabin" in the woods.

On March 26, 1977, he married Helene Mae Longenecker. She survives along with three children, Meagan Leah McKinney of St. Petersburg, Chelsea Elizabeth McKinney of Pittsburgh and Joel Stephen McKinney of St. Petersburg; a brother, Mark A. McKinney of Brookville; three aunts; and numerous nieces and nephews.

<B>MCKINNEY </B>— Funeral services for Gary Stephen McKinney, who died Tuesday, April 15, 2008, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the St. Petersburg United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dan Myers officiating. Burial will follow at the St. Petersburg Cemetery.Memorials may be made to the St. Petersburg United Methodist Church, St. Petersburg, PA 16054; or to the Venango County Humane Society, Deep Hollow Road, Franklin, PA 16323.Arrangements are under the direction of the <B>McKinney Funeral Home</B>, Brookville.