Hiawatha Shook McKinnish

Hiawatha S. McKinnish

"Her children rise up and call her blessed"

Proverbs 31:28

She passed away on Sunday, August 20, 2023, at Silver Bluff Village surrounded by her family and friends.  Hiawatha Shook McKinnish was born on Tuesday, April 10, 1928, to the late Thomas Elwood Shook and Odell Rogers Shook.

Hiawatha was married to Neil Charles McKinnish for 53 years before his passing in 2002.  She was also preceded in death by her son, Charlie McKinnish, of Canton;  five brothers, Morris, T.E., Harold and Howard Wayne Shook, all of Canton, and Rev. Jack Shook of S.C.

She was a wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, but most of all, a Christian lady that loved her Lord.  She was a member of Canton Central United Methodist Church where she was a former Sunday school teacher, member of United Methodist Women and served on various church committees.  While her children were school age, she drove their school bus for Bethel School.  She then went to work at Champion International, where she retired from.  After her retirement, she spent her days volunteering for Meals-On-Wheels, Haywood Christian Ministries, and serving meals at Haywood Community Kitchen.

She loved to camp with her camping buddies at Edisto Island and Davidson River, but most of all, she loved to garden and be working in her yard.  She could always be found tending to her red tulips and zinnias, mowing, or just sitting on her porch watching traffic go by.  Hiawatha will always be remembered for her sense of humor, her infectious smile, and for the love of her family and friends. 

She leaves behind her children, Doug McKinnish (Susan McCall), Kathy Sherrill (Dan), all of Canton, and Tim McKinnish (Caroline), of Morristown, TN; a daughter-n-law, Pollyanna McKinnish, of Canton; her grandchildren, Mitch McKinnish (Tiffany), Karri Shook (Cody), Dr. Tyler McKinnish (Clayton), Bridgett Brooks (Lucas), Quintin McKinnish, Abby McClure (Trent), Trey Sherrill (Samantha); great grandchildren, Eli McKinnish,  Morgan, Mason and Maddox Sherrill, Landon and Blair Brooks; and three sisters-in-law whom she loved, Libby, Margie and Sheila Shook.

There will be a graveside service at Bon-A-Venture Cemetery, Old Clyde Road, Clyde, NC  28721 on Friday, August 25, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. with Trent McClure presiding.  Following the service, the family will be at the home of Doug McKinnish, 236 Ridgeview Lane, Canton.  Please stop by for a visit.

Donations in her memory may be made to Canton Central United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 792, Canton, NC  28716 or to Log Dog Therapy Program, 30^th Judicial District Alliance at www.30thalliance.org/donate.  These donations will help provide two benches in her honor at Log Dog, a sanctuary for children exposed to domestic violence and sexual assault.

Special thanks to the staff at Silver Bluff Village for all the special care they have given her. 

The care of Mrs. McKinnish has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Canton and an online memorial register is available at "Obituaries" at www.wellsfuneralhome.com.