Surrounded by family, Pearce R. McKinney, 75, of Wingate, Indiana, lost a hard-fought battle with cancer in the early hours of Sunday, August 28, 2016.
Respected and successful in his professional role as a State Farm Insurance agent in Fountain County, Pearce took even greater pride in his role as a shepherd – both to the award-winning sheep he raised on his 5th generation homestead farm, Walnut Knoll, and to his community, on every level.
As an elder in the Newtown Community Church, Pearce sang in the choir and taught Sunday School. He served Fountain County by sitting on several Boards, including the Welfare Board, Sheriff Merit Board, and Community Foundation Southeast Fountain. He was also Jury Commissioner from 1973 – 1999.
Pearce served his state as a Board member of the Indiana Board of Animal Health and the Indiana State Diagnostic Lab at Purdue University. He was President of the Indiana Sheep Association from 2006 – 2010, and hosted the Hoosier Agribusiness Science Academy of Purdue for several years.
Nationally Pearce contributed as a Board member for the St Croix Hair Sheep International Association, the Board of Montadale Sheep Breeders, and was the Indiana Representative to the National Animal Industry Institute.
He and his wife, Alice, frequently opened their historic farm home to students from throughout Indiana, guests from the community and from around the world, and often shared the beautiful homestead as a site for weddings of family and friends.
Rallying in the last stages of his illness, Pearce stood with his extended family on August 19, 2016 and accepted recognition by Traditional Arts Indiana and the Indiana State Fair as a State Fair Master for his service and support to the Indiana State Fair and so many of its young participants throughout the years.
He is survived by his wife, Alice J. McKinney of Wingate; sister, Anne Huston, of Laguna Niguel, Calif.; son Noel (Tamara) McKinney of Veedersburg, IN, daughters: Trisha (Mark) Hoffman of Fishers, IN, and Heather (Joel) Elkins of Houston, TX. Step-daughters: Lynnell Nixon of Zionsville, IN, Lisa (Matthew) Martin of Kingman, IN, Amy (Mike) McClure of Westfield, IN. Grandchildren Michael & Taylor Wooden, Madison, Logan, Carter & Mason Hoffman, William & Timothy Elkins, Ariel & Zane Knight, Celeste (Dylan) Eagle, Chloe & Seth Martin, James & Johnathan McClure.
Pearce's family will greet guests, 3:00 – 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at Family and Friends Funeral Home of Wingate (9700 State Road 55 North Wingate). Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, September 1, 2016 at the Newtown Community Church (310 West Washington St. Newtown). With Pastor Dylan Eagle officiating. Burial will follow in the Oak Ridge Cemetery on the McKinney Family Farm. Memorial contributions are encouraged in lieu of flowers, to Southeast Fountain Community Foundation % Pearce & Alice McKinney Scholarship Fund.