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Note: Burdette info from personal knowledge of Burdette McKinnis Written in 1975 by Jeffrey Bates McKinnis My father is Burdette Jones McKinnis. He was born 31 December 1917 in Manchester, Delaware, Iowa. He is the oldest of six children born to Harley Allen McKinnis and Mary Ann Jones. His brothers and one sister in order of their birth are: Russell Allen, Earl Howard, Harley Allen Jr., Beryl Mae, and Robert Laverne. I, unfortunately, know very little about my father and his childhood. Harley Allen McKinnis, my grandfather was a farmer all of his life. Therefore, my father and his brothers and sister grew up on a farm. Life was a struggle. Harley managed to provide the basic necessities for his family, but there was never money for frivolities except when the children earned extra money from working other odd jobs. During the Great Depression years Dad and the older boys maintained gardens on vacant lots in town, the earnings from which went to pay for school books and clothes, etc. Dad remembers coming home fro school and proceeding immediately to the chores which had been assigned him on the farm. After that he would go into town where he'd weed and water the other lots which he and his brothers had sown. Somehow having completed these tasks, he would manage to find within himself the energy necessary to participate in school athletics. More than this, he managed to excel at them. My grandfather would relate to us, his grandchildren, upon our visit to the farm, which was by this time in Bellflower, Missouri, the story of "Dad and the Old Sow.” It appears that my father in his earliest years before the age of school, when he was barely old enough to walk, but young enough to escape the careful watch of his parents, entered the domicile of old sow. The sow had recently become a mother and was naturally very protective of her babies. My father proceeded to pick up one of the piglets, much to the disappointment of the mother who immediately strove to impose herself upon the intruder. Before the irate sow was able to carry forth her work of destruction, the family dog, probably the size of a terrier, leaped to the aid of the seemingly doomed lad. The will and ferocity of a mother animal manifested in defense other young is enough to frighten the noblest and most courageous of spirits, be they animal or human. However, in this situation, the ferocity of the family dog was sufficient to protect my father until his dad came to the rescue. I cannot help but wonder if Heavenly Father had a hand in preserving the life of my father in this instance. I know nothing about my father's scholastic achievement in his younger years-elementary through high school. As mentioned earlier, he excelled in athletics. His favorite sport was basketball, but he was an excellent football player, and even better in track. In high school Dad set a pole vault record which was state best in Iowa and which held for several years. This exceptional ability in track and field won him a full scholarship to Buena Vista College in Iowa. He was not at Buena Vista long before his grades became so low as to be over shadowed by his athletic abilities. He was, therefore, compelled to leave the college. Being greatly handicapped in not having exact dates to ascribe to these events I must, therefore, make an educated guess in most instances. My father graduated from Aurelia High School approximately in the year 1935. Sometime between the year he graduated from high school and 1942 (the date of his marriage) he enlisted into the Army Air Corps. All of the boys in the family, in fact, put time in one branch of the service or another. Earl, unfortunately, did not come back from the war (World War II); he along with many others died in the infamous Death March." Obituary: McKinnis, Burdette J. (Mac) LT. Col. (Ret.) born 12/31/17, left us on 5/15/11. There will be a memorial service for Mac on Wed., June 1, 1:30 pm at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 9085 Calvine Rd., Sacramento 95829. A celebration of his 93 years will be held at the family home following the church service. he was preceded in death by his first wife, Mimi, and is survived by his wife of the last 25 years, Harriet, 4 children, 8 grendchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, 2 step -children and 2 step-grandchildren. Mac was a Depression era Iowa farm boy who dreamed of flying. He retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Lt. Coloonel after 23 years of service. He was a B-24 pilot and flew bombing missions over Germany during WWII. Later assignments included Air Force Intelligence in occupied Japan, a tour at the Pentagon and back to flying with the Stragegic Air Command. During his service time he received his degree from US Berkley and his Maters at the University of Colorado. He had a second career as a stock brocker. Mac was a long time member of Kiwanis and atteneded his last meeting fust 5 days before his death. In his life, tuesday was Kiwanas and Sunday was church day. He was an active Mason for many years and enjoyed membership in the Grandfathers Club. His church was always important to him and he served on the Vestry and as Sr. Warden several times. He also served on the Foundation and commission on the Ministry in the Diocese of Northern California and was the recepient of the Bishop's Award. Mac McKinnis truly loved his God, his family, his country and his friends.
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