My Grandma Mac

Elinor Catherine "Kitty" MacKinnon

Elinor Catherine "Kitty" MacKinnon passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009, at Witham Memorial Hospital in Lebanon.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James, and brother, Dave Calvert. She is survived by her brother, Donald Calvert and wife, Pat, of Austin, Texas, and sister, Dorothy Conklin and husband, Don, of Crossville, Tenn. She also leaves behind son, James and wife, Maria, of Jamestown; daughter, Janice Glascock and husband, Loren, of Veedersburg; son, Kevin of Jamestown; son, Greg and wife, Peggy, of Lebanon; daughter Susan Wahlman and husband, Mike, of St. Louis; and son, Tim and wife, Libby, of Pittsboro. Also surviving are 19 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Kitty, as everyone knew her, was born in Springfield, Ky., and moved various times as she was growing up. Her father was a beef herdsman for many fine herds, and also was herdsman at Purdue University.

Upon high school graduation, she attended Herron Art School for 3 years. At the end of World War II, Kitty took the train to San Francisco and married James MacKinnon. He had returned from the war after serving in the South Pacific as a naval pilot. They returned to Indiana to farm in Westfield with Jim's grandfather. The couple then moved to Jamestown in 1952 and farmed for several years there.

Jim was also in sales and Kitty taught Sunday school. She used her artwork in her teaching, specializing in chalk talks where she tied a message in with the chalk drawing she did in front of the audience. Jim and Kitty founded a mission in Kerala in southern India, and made many trips there getting everything started, until his death in 1989. Kitty continued the ministry there and made more trips with friends from this community. She was finally forced to retire after her health, especially her sight, began to fail.

She always was an inspiration to her children and their offspring and never gave up on anyone. She helped all who came to her, and actually did a lot of counseling with people in the church to help them walk closer with God.

When she had to go to the nursing home, she was a comfort to all who visited her and always encouraged them with her kind words. Needless to say, she was a favorite of the staff there. She will be missed by all, but we all rejoice in her life and service.

Visitation is 3 to 8:00 p.m. today at Old Union Church, 5681 S. 500 W, Jamestown. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at the church. Burial will take place at Jamestown I.O.O.F Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the mission Kitty was so fond of: New Life Christian Mission, c/o Tom Franklin, 48 Hill Top Road, Floyds Knobs, IN 47119.