The James S. Kinney Family

Dad grew up in the Chester Kinney Sr. family. Here they are, from left to right beginning in the back: Aunt Esther Nell, Dad, Uncle Chester, Uncle Paul, (front) Aunt Iris, Gramma Kinney, Grampa Kinney, Aunt JoAnne. My Mom said he was the best of the lot...

...so he married her. Mom said that she married him because he knew his Bible, he didn't cuss, and he was a good man. I think she was also head over heals. He was a good man. He was a James 1:19-21 kind of man.

James and Viola Kinney had children...a bunch of them. Here we are in, probably 1966 or '67 judging by the teeth I am missing, and that the two eldest sons are gone. Dave is probably off to war, and Tim to college.

From left to right; back row: Tom (#5), Deb (#4), Dan (#3), Lib (#6)
From left to right; front row: Ben (#8), Rae (#9), Mom, Dad, Pete (#7)
On Dad's lap: Hannah (#10)

Years of events, world and personal kept the entire family from meeting up again until 1978 when we all got together to celebrate MY high school graduation (jk). I think there was a gathering when Dave and Dan came home from the war, but I don't have a picture. Here we are in the coolest decade. I will not name them all, except to point out are the ones missing from the previous photo: Dave (#1) is second from the left, and Tim (#2) is second from the right. The one on Dad's lap this time was his most recent grandson, and namesake, Jimmy. Three other grandsons are pictured, and I suspect there were two pregnant daughter-in-laws! Also of significance, Harry Burns, my mother's father is seated front and center.


In 1985, Mom and Dad's youngest living daughter got married. Three of us are missing, but look how the grandchildren are growing in size and in number!


This is two years ago, in July 2007. This is my family.

1 Unless the LORD builds the house,
its builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the watchmen stand guard in vain.
2 In vain you rise early
and stay up late,
toiling for food to eat—
for he grants sleep to those he loves.

3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.

4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are sons born in one's youth.

5 Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
when they contend with their enemies in the gate.

(Psalm 127)