Kermit Eugene "KEM" McKinney
Mar 4, 1952 - Nov 17, 2024
Posted by Martha Reddout

© Watts Funeral Home
(permission granted)

Kermit Eugene McKinney, 72, of Marietta, OK, was born on March 4, 1952, in Stillwater, OK to Thomas Benton and Reva Janette (Long) McKinney. He passed from this life on Sunday, November 17, 2024, in Ardmore, OK.

Kermit grew up in California, and his family eventually moved to Marietta, where he graduated from Marietta High School with the class of 1970. His classmates fondly called him “KEM”, which were his initials. He later attended the University of Oklahoma, where he obtained both his bachelor's and master’s degrees in petroleum engineering.

Kermit’s education led him to a lengthy career in the oil industry. Like many oil industry workers before him, his career led him to stops in Pampa, TX, Oklahoma City, OK, Williston, ND, Morgan City, LA and Houston, TX. He worked with companies such as Schlumberger and Kerr-McGee, before returning to southern Oklahoma and working as a consultant with Tom Dunlap and Triple D Drilling and The DeHart Company, LLC. Kermit was also the owner of the Chaston Oil & Gas Company.

Side by side during Kermit’s extensive career was his faithful bride, the former Jeffna Sue Talley. They married on August 17, 1975, in Miami, TX. She made every move with him, raising the family, no matter what the next move was to continue his career.

Kermit lived life to the fullest and stayed active doing the things he loved to do. He enjoyed fly fishing, looking for the next trout to brag about. He was also enthusiastic about golfing, water skiing, snow skiing and riding snow mobiles. He had served on the Love County Fair Board and had served as their president. He had also served as the president for the Oklahoma Petroleum Engineers. He was a long-time Boy Scout leader with Troop #32 and had 13 Eagle Scouts under his command. Kermit was also an active member with the Marietta High School reunion committee that had recently tried to get everyone motivated to support Marietta schools. The most recent and most prominent position that Kermit held was on the Marietta City Council where he had recently become the Mayor. He loved his community and was actively trying to make Marietta a better place to live.

Kermit was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents, Waite and Cleta McKinney and Frank and Ella Long; son, Matthew McKinney; sister, Angela McKinney; and a brother-in-law, Randy Keeton.

Left to cherish Kermit’s memory are his wife Jeffna of the home; son, Chase McKinney and wife Seana of Marietta; grandson, Matthew McKinney and a soon to be granddaughter, Kynlee McKinney, on February 18, 2025; fur baby, Bella of the home; sisters, Ella Keeton, and Janet Page and husband Allen, all of Ardmore; nieces and nephews, Robert Page of Richardson, TX, Ryan Keeton of Ardmore, Bill Page of Bartlesville, OK, Cody Keeton and wife Lauren of Frisco, TX, Reese Talley and wife Hillary of Ft Worth, TX, and Trinidee Chambers and husband Kevin of Mabank, TX; great nieces and nephews, Leah, Mason, Brooklyn, Addison and Ryan; brother-in-law, Joe Talley of Amarillo, TX; and numerous cousins and friends.

Funeral services will be Monday, November 25, 2024, 2:00 P.M., at the Marietta First Baptist Church with Rev. Sam Porter officiating and Shane Norton assisting. Interment will follow at the Lakeview Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Sunday, from 2:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. at the Flanagan-Watts Funeral Home. 

Casket bearers will be David McComber, Joe Pete Martin, Herbert Moore, Mark Muller, Reed Schnorrenberg and Johnny Stone. Honorary casket bearers will be Robert Hitt and Jay Clark. 

A keepsake video is available through the funeral home.

VISITATION
Flanagan-Watts Funeral Home
Sunday, November 24, 2024
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
100 East Main
Marietta, OK 73448

FUNERAL SERVICE
First Baptist Church of Marietta
Monday, November 25, 2024
2:00 PM
204 West Main
Marietta, OK 73448

INTERMENT
Lakeview Cemetery
Monday, November 25, 2024
10589 Cemetery Road
Marietta, OK 73448