Alexander Stuart McKinney, MD

Alexander (Sandy) Stuart McKinney, MD, of Lake Junaluska died peacefully at home on June 20, 2024. He was born in New York City on February 3, 1933, to Katherine Morse McKinney and John McDowell McKinney, MD. He spent his early years in Manhattan before attending the Slade School in Maryland and then the Kent School in Kent, Connecticut. 

After spending a year in Paris studying French history at the Sorbonne, he returned home to attend Princeton University, graduating in 1955. From there, on to Columbia University School of Medicine, then the New York Neurological Institute. After his residency he served two years in the US Navy at the Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia. He then went to Atlanta where he taught and practiced neurology at Emory University for twenty years before moving to Waynesville in 1985. He practiced ten more years at Mountain Medical Associates before retiring.

He was a member of The American Academy of Neurology, the American Medical Association, and the Royal Academy of Medicine. His life was spent helping others.

Sandy was a true gentleman whose kindness touched many lives. Dearly loved by family and friends, and certainly by many patients, he will be remembered with great admiration and respect. 

He loved family gatherings and spending time with friends, and also enjoyed gardening (especially his roses), book club, playing tennis, travel, and music. 

He leaves behind his wife of 39 years Susan Lowe McKinney, sons James (Cathy), David (Claudia), and Mark: stepdaughters Josephine Donehoo, Mary Starr (Eric), Jennifer Goff (Cary); nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He also leaves a brother George and is preceded in death by his sister Nancy. 

All who knew and loved him will cherish his memory. Rest in peace Sandy. 

A gathering to celebrate Sandy’s life will be held on Monday, June 24, 4pm– 6pm at Wells Events Center.

The family thanks Haywood Hospice for their kind care.

The care of Dr. McKinney has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville and an online memorial register is available at “Obituaries” at www.wellsfuneralhome.com.