Donald McKinnon Obituary

Donald Ladson McKinnon
BEECH ISLAND, SC - Mr. Donald Ladson McKinnon, 82, beloved husband of the late Mary Elizabeth Rozar McKinnon, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 15, 2016.
A Celebration of Life service will be conducted at 11:00 AM on Saturday, June 18, 2016 at the Historical First Baptist Church of Beech Island with Rev. Frank Hyder and Rev. Greg Williams officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
Mr. McKinnon was a native of Eastman, Georgia having made his home for the past 59 years in Beech Island. He was a member of the Historical First Baptist Church of Beech Island since 1956. He was retired from Columbia Nitrogen.
Mr. McKinnon was a loving husband and father and was known to his family and friends as "Tracker" because of his love for hunting. He was a talented musician, singer and songwriter. Early in his musical career he was under contract with Pamper Music in Nashville, TN (contract currently held by Sony Music) as a songwriter. He had various artist record his music to include Hank Snow, Tex Williams, Ronnie Dove and Johnny Cash. Mr. McKinnon's on stage performances included the opening act for Hank Snow, Conway Twitty, and B. J. Thomas. Mr. McKinnon met many performers along the way to include Dolly Parton, George Strait, Everly Brothers, Chet Atkins, George Jones and Willie Nelson. During his musical career he performed in Las Vegas and was a guest on the Grand Ole Opry.
Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Shawn and Brenda McKinnon, North Augusta, SC; five daughters and sons-in-law, Susan and Eric Sanders, North Augusta, SC, Bonnie and Michael Mixon, Beech Island, SC, Tonya and Brian Logan, North Augusta, SC, Lisa and Andy Foreman, Jackson, SC, Amy and Bruce Hickman, Beech Island, SC; 11 grandchildren, Gracie McKinnon, Grant McKinnon, Corey Phillips, Keaton Phillips, April Mixon McNeill, Jennifer Mixon Keevern, Ashley Roon, Tyler Roon, Drew Foreman, Alexis Hickman, Allan Hickman; four great grandchildren, Sophia Keevern, Owen Keevern, Bentley Lynch, Noah Roon and one sister Linda McKinnon of Martinez, GA. He was preceded in death by his parents, Willie Ladson McKinnon and Mary Grace McKinnon. He also leaves behind his faithful and loyal pet, Boots, his German Shepard.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons and grandson's-in-law.
The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service.
Memorials may be made to Historical First Baptist Church of Beech Island, 170 Church Road, Beech Island, SC 29842 (McKinnon Music Fund) or to the Alzheimer's Association, 106 SRP Drive, Suite A, Evans, GA 30809.
Rowland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Please visit the online register at www.rowlandfuneralhome.com.