EDINBURGH, IN.
Carole McKinney, age 78 of Edinburgh, IN, beloved wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, sister, aunt, colleague, and professor died October 13th, 2023.
She was born on February 19th to late James and Helen Lyon in Eldorado, Illinois. She graduated from Eldorado High School, MacMurray College, and did her graduate studies at Indiana University.
Carole began her career as a school psychologist for the Indianapolis Public Schools, first as an intern and then a regular staff member. Because her graduate work included clinical and educational psychology as well as special education, she felt she could better serve children by moving to a faculty position at Franklin College
At Franklin College, she taught classes in child psychology, adolescent psychology, educational psychology, and special education as well as sociology and women’s studies. She helped to develop and taught a core course for all students which focused on cultural issues and racism and sexism.
She carried a heavy student-advising load and developed and served as a leader in freshman orientation programs. For many years, she was the licensing officer for Teacher Education working with the Indiana Department of Education. At Franklin College, Carole received several awards for teaching including the Adjunct Faculty Excellence Award, and the Associate Alumni Award, and sponsored the Kappa Delta Phi Education Honorary. Upon hearing of Carole’s passing, one of her students commented, “I keep hearing her say how being around us reminded her of the good in the world. SHE was the good in the world, and how blessed we are to have been so wonderfully impacted by her one-of-a-kind positivity, passion, wisdom, love, and caring ways.”
Because she worked with summer programs for gifted and talented students that Franklin College sponsored, Carole was asked to help design a statewide program housed at Ball State University that became the Indiana Academy for Science, Mathematics, and Humanities. She served as chair of the school board for several years and focused on student admissions.
Her background in sociology and a college internship with Child and Family Services in her home county in Illinois lead her to serve for many years as a board member of Turning Point, which provides shelter and counseling for victims of domestic violence.
Carole was an instrumental part of the development of Central Indiana’s Adult &Child Health community health centers. In 1980, she was asked to be one of the representatives for Johnson County for a plan being developed for mental health services for Johnson County and southern Marion County. The state had given a contract to the Marion County Child Guidance Clinic to oversee planning services for the last designated area in the state plan for community mental health. As a member of the board for the Johnson County Mental Health Association, Carole felt she could be of assistance, and accepted a position on the planning committee. Developing the plan was a long and stressful process but she knew the outcome was critical for mental health in both counties. Carole remained involved since those initial steps began both as a board member and officer serving several terms as chair.
A community builder and holder of space, Carole never found anyone who needed her who didn’t get what they needed. Carole was a devoted mother, mother-law, daughter-in-law, sister and a grandmother of the highest caliber, and a better friend than anyone could wish for.
Carole is survived by her son Josh and twin grandchildren Lawrence and Helen; Andy (Danna) and grandson Theo; brother Jim (Sandy) and sisters, Janet Jones and Diane (Harvey), and their children and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Larry. In addition to family, Carole leaves behind a community of friends all over the United States and the world who treasured her.
A public memorial service will be held at the Richardson Memorial Chapel at Franklin College on Saturday, October 21st, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the following organizations: Thomas Ridley’s 1 Like Me, Inc.; the Indiana Bar Foundation; The McKinney-Collier Endowed Scholarship at Franklin College; or Turning Point Domestic Violence Services.
Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center 300 South U.S. 31 (Morton Street) in Franklin, IN is handling the arrangements.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.swartzmorutary.com. Information 317-738-0202.
