Mar 13, 2008

Diana Dee (Ames) McKinley, daughter of the late Elizabeth (Bootz) Ames and Wallace W. Ames Sr., of Theodosia, was born Feb. 15, 1943, in Chicago, Ill., and died Sunday, March 9 at her home in Ava, at the age of 65 years and 24 days. She was preceded in death by her husband, John M. McKinley in 1996. Diana came to Ava in 1996 from the Coal City, Ill., area where she was a counselor with the Epilepsy Foundation of America. She volunteered for the Heart of The Hills Food Harvest in Ava and was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church here. Besides her father, survivors include two brothers, Wallace Ames Jr. and his wife, Jackie, of Mattoon, Ill., and Gerald Ames and his wife, Maggie, of Theodosia; a stepson, Elliott R. McKinley and his wife, Deborah, of Springfield, Ill.; and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service, celebrating Diana's life, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 20, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Ava. The Rev. Wayne Stroschein will officiate. Inurnment will be in Braceville and Gardner Cemetery, Braceville, Ill., at the convenience of the family. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Clinkingbeard Funeral Home of Ava. Memorials may be made to Heart of The Hills Food Harvest, Ava Senior Center or Neighbor Helping Neighbor. Online condolences may be made to www.clinkingbeardfuneralhome. com.