Frankie Lee Kinney

Frankie Lee Kinney, a 64-year-old Trenton resident, passed away Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, at Northeast Missouri Regional Medical Center in Kirksville.
Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021 at C.F. Russell Stadium in Trenton.
Burial will follow in Resthaven Memorial Gardens of Trenton.
A visitation is scheduled from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021 at Resthaven Mortuary of Trenton.
Frank, the first-born child of Betty Lou Atchley Kinney and Lloyd Earl Kinney, was born in Kirksville on Oct. 3, 1957. He attended Willard Elementary School for grades one through six, Ophelia Parrish for grades seven through nine (both in Kirksville) and Kirksville High School for grades 10-12. Frank played baseball up until he turned 18; football through middle school and high school; threw discus and shot put for the high school track team; and wrestled in high school, where he qualified for state his junior and senior years at heavyweight. During high school, Frank earned a two-year Building Trades Certifi-cate through the Kirksville Area Technical Center.
Frank met Shani Lee Thompson of Newtown in the fall of 1977. He challenged her to out-bowl him with the loser taking the winner out to the dinner of their choice. Frank lost and ended up spending an entire paycheck on their first date.
Frank and Shani were married on Nov. 10, 1979, and together raised Frank’s pride and joy, his three children, Katie, Kenton and Kade. As the children got older, he filled his time by coaching and volunteering, which continued even after the kids were grown and out of the house. He was a frequent fixture at the local football field as well as other football fields in the surrounding areas. He coached, officiated and volunteered with youth wrestling and could be found at multiple wrestling tournaments across the state, where he spent countless hours imparting his wisdom and humor on thousands of youth.
Frank had many careers, working every job from bussing tables to concrete and construction, convenience store clerk and manager, and eventually ended up in 2003 as the postmaster in Princeton. As was the theme with Frank, his favorite part of the job was getting to meet, interact and help people every day.
Frank was an active member of the community. He served on the football chain gang for the Truman State University football team; on the board of directors for Trenton Little League Football and Trenton Kids Wrestling; vice president of the North Central Missouri Fair Board; and served on the MO USA Wrestling State Tournament Committee.
Frank was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, a 45-year football official with Missouri State High School Athletic Association and a 20-year football official with the Heart of America Athletic Conference. He assisted Shani with countless Pleasant View R-6 projects and productions, and washed over 11,000 potatoes for the Trenton Band Boosters concession stand on Friday nights. His friendly face and willingness to jump in and do whatever anyone needed done will be sorely missed in the community and across the state.
Frank is survived by his wife of 42 years, Shani; his daughter, Katie of Trenton; sons, Kenton and Alicia (Kendahl and Kale) of Kearney and Kade of Kirksville; father, Lloyd Kinney of Kirksville; brother, David and Melissa Kinney of Kirksville; mother-in-law, Idell Thompson of Higginsville; sisters-in-law, Sharon Thompson of Alma and Shelly and Ron Fauss of Corder; nieces, Haylee and Dakotta Snyder of Green Castle, Callyn Kinney of Kirksville, Alexandria Fauss of Orlando, FL; a nephew, Sam and Brittny Fauss of Concordia; and a great- nephew, Hudson Snyder of Green Castle.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Betty; brother, Danny; paternal grandparents Virgil and Grace Kinney; maternal grandparents Sam and Cena Atchley; and father-in-law, Earl June Thompson of Newtown.
Memorial donations are suggested to the Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri and may be left with or mailed to the funeral home.