Alice Hollenbeck McKinney
May 6, 1925 - May 12, 2014

Alice Hollenbeck Greene McKinney

Alice died on May 12, 2014, at home and holding the hand of her husband of nearly 65 years, E. Kirk McKinney, Jr.

From the start, she and Kirk were a great team: they loved to travel, collect art, hike, garden and go boating. Over the years, they visited every continent, spent many summers at "Yonder," their home on Bainbridge Island, Washington, and amassed a group of friends of all ages and callings.

Alice was born in Indianapolis in 1925 to Dorothy Knight and Stewart Ashley Greene. She graduated from Shortridge High School and Smith College. She helped establish the Indianapolis Opera and Dance Kaleidoscope, was a life trustee of The Nature Conservancy, a board member at Herron School of Art, a docent at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, and an active member in the Smith College Club, Fall Creek Garden Club, Indianapolis Woman's Club, the Contemporary Club, and the Women's Committee of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.

Alice's father died when she and her sister Mary Frances were 12 and 14 years old. Their intrepid mother was a professional organist and pianist who accompanied ballet classes, silent movies and myriad religious services. Dorothy made sure that both girls received fine educations and training in art, dance and music.

From that upbringing, Alice learned firsthand the importance of supporting the arts, attending performances, and donating generously. She and Kirk continued that tradition throughout their life together, buying season tickets, visiting galleries, and taking risks on young artists. Several pieces from their collection are now at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Tacoma Art Museum and the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art. She loved to celebrate her own birthday by underwriting a musical performance for the children of IPS School #70, her beloved alma mater.

She was a fitness buff before it was popular. She learned to ski during a winter term spent at Pinkham Notch in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and she actively skied into her 80s. She wielded a wicked slice backhand on the tennis court, loved to swim laps in the Woodstock pool, and enjoyed daily walks and bike rides.

Alice is survived by her husband, Kirk, and their four children: Kirk (Eliece Aiman); Brooks (Julie McKinney); Nora Hiatt (Tom) and Margot McKinney (Dave Morrison), as well as seven grandchildren: Alex and Brady Hiatt; Zach, Zoe and Emmett McKinney; Claire Bachman and Michael McKinney. She was preceded in death by her sister, an infant daughter and an infant granddaughter.

In her last years, she was cared for with patience and grace by Cynthia Martin Miles, Sheryl Davis, Jennifer Jackson, Bettina Rippy and LaTonya McCreary, as well as Dr. Jon Schmidt. The family is grateful for their care and compassion.
In lieu of flowers, it would delight Alice to know that you had made a gift to your favorite local arts organization or The Kirk and Alice McKinney Fund at The Nature Conservancy.

A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, June 6, at North United Methodist Church at 38th and Meridian, followed by a reception for friends and family at Woodstock Club, 5-7 p.m.

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