Joan R. McKinney, age 79 of Hammond, went home to be with Jesus and is happily playing the piano, waiting for all her loved ones to join her. Her greatest joy was knowing Jesus Christ as her personal savior. She left her earthly home on Tuesday, March 29, 2011 surrounded by her loving family.

Joan is survived by her children, Sandra (Donald) Pierce of Hammond, Ray (Carol) Fulkerson of Michigan City and her constant companion, her yorkie, "Gypsy";

6 step-children; 7 grandchildren: Shannon (Steve) Blazina,

Rhonda (Mark) Penman, Tamara (Samuel) Lazzell,

Kari (Matt) Petry, Raymond (Amber) Fulkerson,

Susan (Bill) Watterud and Elizabeth (Wayne) Gurr

23 great grandchildren;

one sister, Sally (John) Blackstone; 3 brothers: Robert (Trudy) Clark, John Clark and Harold Clark;

several nieces and nephews and her church family at Cline Gardens Christian Church.

Preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Ruth Clark and one brother, Don Clark; husbands, Walker H. Cauley, William Cleveland and James McKinney.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2011 at 10.00 am at Bocken Funeral Home 7042 Kennedy Avenue, Hammond (Hessville) with Joseph Anweiler, Minister and Russell Smiddy, Elder officiating. Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Hammond.

Friends are invited to meet with the family at Bocken Funeral Home on Friday, April 1, 2011 from 2:00 pm until 8:00 pm .

Joan was a lifetime resident of the Calumet Area and made her home in the Hessville section of Hammond. She was a 1949 graduate of Hammond High School. Joan was a longtime faithful member of Cline Gardens Christian Church. She loved quilting, working crossword puzzles, having garage sales and fishing. Joan was a respiratory therapist and retired from the Treasure Cove Rehab Center in Florida. She was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and lifelong friend to many and will be deeply missed. The family wishes to express their gratefulness for the many cards and prayers from her friends and especially to Christina Bailey and all the staff at Hospice of the Calumet. Memorials may be made in Joan's memory to Cline Gardens Christian Church, 6851 New Hampshire, Hammond, IN 46323.

For more information you may call Bocken Funeral Home at (219)-844-1600 .