Patrick McKinney

Patrick Anthony McKinney, age 25 of Louisville, our “Old Soul” passed too early on June 14, 2023. While checking out property for his future farmstead, Patrick lost control of his vehicle in a single car accident in Oldham County.

Although he left us far too soon, he will be remembered for a life well lived. A graduate of Trinity High School in 2017, Patrick was a natural athlete. He loved to wrestle (whether on the mat or with his siblings) and played rugby. He had a beautiful voice that shined in the high school choir. In 2015 and 2016 Patrick explored his creative side and spent the summer with his uncle in Montana learning how to shoe horses and blacksmith. In the years following he could be found in the garage on his home-made forge.

Following High School, Patrick enlisted in the Navy and served five years aboard the USS New York (LPD-21), where he honed his mechanical skills as an engineman, achieving the rank of Engineman Second Class (EN2). During his time in the Navy, he served the Country on two deployments and traveled the world to the Middle East, Spain, Morocco, Great Britan, and Iceland, where he earned his blue nose. He was affectionately known on the ship as “Spud”. He was a bright light in a dark room, a friend to all, and a genuinely kind person. He loved talking to his crew mates about his passions and dreams and could catch a snooze anywhere, even standing up.

Patrick’s mechanical skills were further developed when he earned Master Mechanic at the Caterpillar training program. If it wasn’t thirty years older than him, he wasn’t interested in buying it. He could be found working on, and cussing at, his Toyota Tacoma when he had any free time.

If you were talking to Patrick he was listening and truly interested. The top three words in his vocabulary were God, Family, and Duty. Of course, he was good at keeping us on our toes whether it be stepping off the subway right before the door closed leaving the family inside, or taking a hike at the family reunion that ended up being “longer than expected.” It was not a successful vacation unless at least one McKinney was lost, usually Patrick. He was genuine in literally everything that he did, even if it meant that he showed up completely covered in ash to a doctor’s appointment because he was so busy building a flag pole out of a burn tree limb.

Patrick’s joy was infectious. Over the past week we have felt Patrick’s reach far and wide. Messages from all around the world have truly shown that Patrick’s reach was wide and his impact was great. A trait we have known about for years. He was born a few generations too late but thrived to bring simplicity to this modern world.

Patrick is preceded in death by his uncle Michael Moeller and his aunt Jodi Mitchell. Here to carry on his memory are his loving parents Bruce and Heidi McKinney; Siblings Elizabeth Hutter (Jesse), Cailin McKinney, and Sean McKinney; grandparents Donna and Skip Oetzel and Betty and Jerry Moeller; uncle Frank McKinney (Jane); aunt Debbie Braun (Carl); uncle Dennis Mitchell; and a web of loving family and friends worldwide.

A visitation will be held on Thursday June 22 at Arch L. Heady Westport Road, 7410 Westport Road, from 3:00 P.M.– 8:00 P.M. A Mass of Christian Burial will begin Friday Morning at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph Catholic Church with a burial on Monday June 26 at 12:30 at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central, 2501 North Dixie Blvd., Radcliff, KY, full military honors will be presented.

As Patrick would end his letters, “I love you and please think of me always.” We certainly will, a bright light that can’t be easily put out.