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G. Franklin McKinney born in Las Cruces, New Mexico, passed away on November 29, 1999. Franklin was born April 22, 1926, to George Leon and Neva Louise McKinney, who preceded him in death. Franklin was a lifelong resident of Las Cruces. He graduated from Las Cruces Union High School in 1944 and then served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. After the war, Franklin returned to Las Cruces and managed his parents' grocery store in Mesilla Park. He pioneered the first convenience store in southern New Mexico when he opened Pic Quik store number one at 1345 Idaho in April, 1958. The Pic Quik name had remained prominent in the Las Cruces, Hatch, and Deming areas. Franklin was active in a number of professional and community organizations. He was a board member of the Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee, charter member and past president of Tri-State Wholesale Grocers of El Paso, Texas, past president and long standing board member of the New Mexico Grocers Association, longtime member of the National Association of Convenience Stores, and a founding member of the Board of Directors for United New Mexico Bank of Las Cruces. His passion for the convenience store business never waned. He continued to actively interact with Pic Quik customers, employees, and professional associates. He is survived by his wife, Frances McKinney; five sons, Roy and wife, Susan McKinney of Albuquerque, Mark and wife, Cindy McKinney of Las Cruces, David McKinney of Camarillo, CA, Franklin and wife, Jenni McLelland of Tahoka, TX, Scot and wife, Betsy McLelland of Tijeras; two daughters, Lauranne and husband, Bill Webber of Las Cruces and Jane and husband, Roy Garrand of Little Elm, TX, and Mark and Suzan Stambaugh of Sherman Oaks CA. He is also survived by one brother, Dan and wife, Della McKinney of Las Cruces; and by one sister, Mary and husband, Howard White of Sierra Vista, AZ. He is also survived by 18 grandchildren. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, November 2, 1999, at Getz Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m., Friday, December 3, 1999, at Getz, followed by interment at Hillcrest Memorial Garden. Arrangements by Getz Funeral Home, 1410 E. Bowman Ave., Las Cruces, NM, (505) 526-2419.
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