Portsmouth Man Satisfied With His Funeral Services

Zanesville Times Recorder
June 7, 1965

 

PORTSMOUTH, Ohio (UPI)-
Gerald McKinney, 42, watched his own funeral at the Scioto County Fairgrounds Sunday with great delight just like his great grandfather did in 1896 near here.

The Springfield factory worker, who formally lived in the nearby Minford area, sat throughout the 80 minute service on the stage beside an empty blond casket as some 1,000 friends and curiosity seekers watched.

The tall thin McKinney, who was dressed in a dark suit and a bow tie for the solemn occasition went to the fairgrounds in the hearse provided by the McKinley Funeral Home at Lucasville.  He sat in the front seat with the driver. 

The hearse and 11 cars were in the funeral procession, which included McKinney's wife, mother, brother and a dozen cousins but not his three children by a former marriage. As they arrived at the fairgrounds, about 500 persons waited to watch the unusual affair which is something of a family tradition. The audience increased later.

In 1896 Lorenzo Dow McKinney, when he was 80, staged a similar festive, colorful preview funeral attended by a somewhat familiar sized crowd.

Gerald's father also wanted to hold a "funeral living service" when he reached 80 but died before arrangements could be made. So Gerald decided to not to wait until he was 80. The 20-year mechanic at the International Harvester Co. in Springfield hired a band and made plans for music and the oration at his own funeral well ahead of time.

The Springfield factory worker, who formerly lived in the nearby Minford area, sat throughout the 80 minute service in the stage beside an empty blond casket as soem 1,000 friends and curiously seekers watched.