Marie McKinney, known affectionately to all as Marie, passed away leaving behind a legacy of profound love, family devotion, and vibrant joy.

Born in Asheville, NC (Buncombe County), Marie grew up in Asheville and attended Biltmore School. She was raised by her loving parents, Dradon Gilbert Ingle Sr. and Virginia Rose Ingle, as well as Maude Melson Ingle.

Marie’s life was defined by her role as a dedicated homemaker and a fiercely devoted mother. Her family was her entire world, and her extraordinary devotion earned her the ultimate, well-deserved title of “Outstanding Mama.” A woman of deep Baptist faith, Marie’s happiest moments were spent surrounded by her family, filling the room with her beautiful and electric energy. She had a deep, wholehearted love for those around her.

Her favorite color was yellow, and she had a special passion for flowers and owls. Marie also had a wide array of hobbies that brought her joy, including indoor and outdoor gardening, camping, singing and dancing in her younger years, shopping, eating good food, traveling back roads, visiting thrift stores, watching old movies, spoiling her grands, and loving on her furbabies.

She leaves behind her loving life partner of over 50 years, Michael “Mike” Francum of Candler, North Carolina.

Marie was a mother of seven children. She was preceded in death by her son, James Donald McKinney Jr., and her daughter, Deborah Marie Ritch. Her beautiful memory will be carried on by her surviving children: Pamela Jean Billings (Denny); Rockland Dean McKinney (Doshey); Phillip Anthony McKinney (Sissy), of Candler, North Carolina; Christina Leigh McKinney, of Longwood, Florida; Melloney Raquel Santiago (Jorge), of Harlem, Georgia; and Kathy Katechis, the adopted daughter of the family, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren: Tiffany (Dan), Celia, Brandy (Robert), Britney (Kelly), and Travis (Rebecca), all of Candler, North Carolina; Den Jr. (Jennifer), of Walnut, North Carolina; Shan, of Canton, North Carolina; Jonathan (Bethany), of Boomer, North Carolina; Holly, of Wasilla, Alaska; Madison, of Fairbanks, Alaska; Diego, of Valdosta, Georgia; and Orlando, of Harlem, Georgia. Marie was also blessed with 15 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great-grandchildren.

Marie is survived by her siblings: her brother, Kenneth Ingle (Cindy), of California; her sister, Brenda Hudson, of Indiana; her brother, Malcolm Ingle, of Asheville, North Carolina; her sister-in-law, Trula; and her son-in-law, Boone. She also leaves behind too many beloved family members and friends to mention individually, all of whom she loved deeply.

She was preceded in death by her son, James Donald McKinney Jr.; her daughter, Deborah Marie Ritch; her siblings, David, Joseph, and Dradon Gilbert Ingle Jr.; her father, Dradon Gilbert Ingle Sr.; her stepmother, Virginia Ingle; and her mother, Maude Ingle.

Marie’s warmth, radiant smile, style, and boundless love will be deeply missed but never forgotten by all who were blessed to know her.