Cover photo for Mary Elizabeth Kinney's Obituary
Mary Elizabeth Kinney Profile Photo

Mary Elizabeth Kinney

September 14, 1943 — December 28, 2019

Mary Elizabeth Kinney

Mary Elizabeth Kinney (née Jones), age 76, died peacefully and surrounded by her family on Saturday, December 28th.

Mary grew up in Brigham City, Utah where she developed her love of nature, playing card games, science fiction and hiking, camping and fishing with her 3 brothers. She fell madly in love with a Marine Corps pilot who swept her off feet and safely landed them in New Jersey where she resided for 40 years.

Mary had two successful careers as a special ed teacher in the Jefferson Township, NJ school system and as a customer service rep for Automatic Switch Company in Florham Park, NJ. 
Mary was the best mother ever to her two children. She ensured they knew that her love was great and unconditional. She took them fishing and on long nature walks, and supported them in their various activities. She even enjoyed listening to her son’s heavy metal band practice in the “back room”. One of her children’s favorite memories is when she took them to see Star Wars twice in a row. 
Mary also excelled at grand-parenting. She showered them with love and fun and made sure they knew how much they were treasured. She was only a Great-grandmother for a short while, but loved FaceTiming and holding him for the first time.
Mary was a very active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Mary’s love of children was apparent in that her church service extended from nursery teacher when she was 19 to mentoring young teenagers in her later years.
Her many church callings included Ward Relief Society President, Stake Primary President, and Temple worker (both in New York City and Nashville).
Mary and John were called as Senior Missionaries after retiring and were assigned to the Tennessee Nashville Mission. After a one-year mission, they had fallen for the Southern lifestyle and relocated to White House, TN where she continued her church service and enjoyed time with many close friends. and being an active church member.
Her strength, courage, kindness and gentle nature will be missed by those who love her. She was a beautiful woman inside and out who loved to laugh and did so often.

She was predeceased by her parents Marvin and Rotha Jones, brother John Jones and sister Becky Firkins.

She is survived by the love of her life and husband of 54 years, John Kinney, her children Ann and Jack (and his wife Debbie), grandchildren Shane (and his wife Ashley), Matt and Allie, and her great-grandson Hudson.
She is also survived by her brothers Reese Jones and David Jones (and his wife Angie) and sister Debi Higgins, her brothers-in-law Dennis Firkins, Joe Kinney, Mike Kinney, Jim Kinney (and his wife Anne) and sister-in-love Melinda Jones, as well as dozens of nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 107 Twin Hills Dr, Madison, TN at 11am on Thursday, January 2 immediately followed by a funeral service at 12 noon. 

Interment will take place at 2pm on Tuesday, January 7 at Middle Tennessee Veterans Cemetery, 7931 McCrory Ln, Nashville, TN. Please meet at the Rotunda.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mary Elizabeth Kinney, please visit our flower store.

Past Services

Visitation

Thursday, January 2, 2020

11:00am - 12:00 pm (Central time)

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Funeral Service

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Starts at 12:00 pm (Central time)

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

107 Twin Hills Dr, Nashville, TN 37115

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Interment

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Starts at 2:00 pm (Central time)

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

107 Twin Hills Dr, Nashville, TN 37115

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Guestbook

Visits: 76

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Send Flowers

Send Flowers

Plant A Tree

Plant A Tree