Mum's Life Sketch

Barbara Pearl McKinley was born at home on the 2nd of January, 1941 in Port Arthur, Texas to Ira Lee and Julia (Boyd) McKinley, the middle of three children.
Her mother was a faithful woman and after prayerful seeking, chose to raise her family in the Baptist Church. Barbara remembers her mother kneeling in front of a church while she was searching and praying “is Jesus here?” She remembers enjoying church very much.
Barbara grew up an excellent student and good athlete. She lettered in basketball, softball, volleyball, badminton, performed in the school Drum and Bugle Corp. and was a straight “A” student in high school. Her college years began at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas studying to become a teacher. Upon completing her degree, she began her teaching career seeking adventure in Fairbanks, Alaska, returning to work in Port Arthur after two years away. During this time she also began work on a Masters Degree.
While teaching in Port Arthur, a young man introduced her to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Barbara knew it was true as soon as she heard the first discussion from the missionaries.  She was baptized August 15, 1963. Barbara decided to go to Salt Lake where she could meet some young people in the Church and to learn more about her new faith.  She was hired by the Salt Lake School District for the 1964 school year.
After teaching a year in Salt Lake District Barbara went home to Port Arthur in the summer to finish her Master's Degree at Lamar University.  When she returned to Salt Lake City, she moved into the same building as a handsome young man from New Zealand named Barney Wihongi and attended the same Ward.  After hearing Barney teach in a church class, she decided to ask him to go on a date before other girls in the class could.  It was only about 2 weeks later when they knew, they would get married. Barney sang Maori songs to Barbara while playing his ukulele.  He sang them so many times; Barbara learned all the words to "Hoki Mai", "Tahine", and "Pokarekare Ana." Two months later, having very little family in Salt Lake, Barney and Barbara eloped to Las Vegas on the 29th of December 1965. They were sealed in the Salt Lake Temple, on the 28th of October, 1966.
They bought a home in the avenues area of Salt Lake City, while Barney started on his graduate work at the University of Utah in the evenings.
After 4 years of working and no children, their first child Shaun came into their lives in 1969 and everything changed. Over the next 6 years they would have four more sons – Jody, Jason, Jared, and Scott.
Barbara quit teaching in 1970 when Jody was born and was only making a little money babysitting.  They barely qualified for the new home, which they built in Midvale in 1972.
In 1975 the now Dr. Barney Wihongi was appointed the principal of the LDS High School - Church College of New Zealand in his homeland of New Zealand and the family moved there to live the next 13 years. The LDS community of Temple View was a wonderful place to live, grow, and raise children. It was difficult being so far from her parents, but the people of New Zealand embraced her like one of their own. Barbara made many life-long friends there who came to love and respect her for the kindness, openness, and the dignity with which she carried herself.
In 1981 they received a baby girl, Tania, to complete their family
On April 4th, 1983 Barney passed away from colon cancer, leaving Barbara a widow with six children ages 15 to 2. The community rallied around her and family with much love and support. Barbara resumed teaching, and the family eventually decided to move back to Utah in 1987, buying a home in the city of Sandy – close to several of Barney’s sisters and their families. Barbara renewed her Utah teaching certificate and began teaching in an elementary school for the next 15 years, in order to support her family as a widowed mother, until she was able to retire in 2003. She watched with pride as each of her 5 son’s served honorable missions, and each child married someone who brought great value to their family. She found great joy in the grandchildren and eventually great-grandchildren that came into her life, and was deeply loved by them all.
 She lived with her son Jody and his family in Sandy until 2010, then moving to Taylorsville to live with another son Scott and his family for the duration of her life.
Barbara spent her retirement years doing genealogy, and temple work, supporting her family, and serving others. She was a devoted and faithful member of her church serving in many callings during her lifetime, including Relief Society President, Primary President, and Temple Ordinance Worker, among many others.
Barbara is loved, respected, and admired by all who who have known her. She is legendary for her quiet strength, her kindness, her ability to only see the good in others, and her simple but unshakeable faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Barbara is survived by her brother Paul, her six children and their spouses, 30 grandchildren and three of their spouses, as well as 2 great-grandchildren with one more on the way, leaving a legacy of unconditional love and strength for her family to continue. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Barney, her goodly parents, and her brother Danny.