Jill Ann McGinnis, 63, died April 5, 2016

Jill Ann McGinnis joined her parents and brothers in heaven on April 5, 2016, ending a gradual decline in her health related to muscular dystrophy. She was born in Keokuk, Iowa, on Aug. 5, 1952, and graduated from Keokuk High School.

Jill was active in Special Olympics and participated in a national competition in Chicago, medaling in swimming while in high school. She spent many summers with her family at their Iowa cottage on Lake Okoboji, always her favorite place in the whole world.

Jill had a sweet heart and was loved and admired by everyone she met. She was always positive and pleasant and, most recently, a favorite patient of the numerous hospital nurses who cared for her over the past few months.

Jill worked for many years in the Mother’s Day Out program at Coker United Methodist Church. She loved her job, the children and the caring people with whom she worked. After more than 20 years at Coker, she was proud to be “retired.”

Jill was an original resident of Dove Manor, a group home where she took charge and helped other residents in many ways. The residents were a core group of her closest friends. She was also a special member of the family of her sister, brother-in-law and nephews, who she lived with for many years before and after Dove Manor.

Jill was an avid fan of the San Antonio Spurs, and first on her Christmas list every year was Spurs tickets.   She was always up for a game of gin and other card games, a passion her dad instilled in her, and which she played with a competitive spirit.

Jill is survived by sister Judy and brother-in-law Palmer Moe; sister-in-law Shirley McGinnis; nephews and nieces and their families, Jeff Moe, Shane and Lisa Moe, Savannah, Sarah Jane, Kayla and Kendra Moe, Ryan and Erika Moe, Carolyn and Grace Moe, Jill and Ross Juhl, Hannah and Emily Juhl, Kelly and Richard Dulworth, Alexis and Allie Dulworth, Robert and Ann McGinnis, and Amber and Abbie McGinnis.

Jill was preceded in death by her parents, Betty C. and William T. McGinnis; brothers, Mike McGinnis and Steve McGinnis; and her grandparents.

If there was ever someone who had a free ride into heaven, it would be Jill. To quote a friend: “She was a Special Child of God.” She never met anyone she did not like; she was always pleasant, very positive and caring; she liked to help others; she appreciated the time she had with her family; she loved people and she told them so. Jill will be sorely missed by family and friends.

A memorial service is 1 p.m. April 23 at Coker United Methodist Church in San Antonio.

Local arrangements by Putnam Funeral Home and Crematory, 145 Texas Ave. in Kingsland, (325) 388-0008. Go to putnamcares.com to sign an online guest register.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to Reaching Maximum Independence, 6336 Montgomery, San Antonio TX 78239 (rmihomes.org); or the Special Adults Programs of St. David’s Episcopal Church, 1300 Wilshire Ave., San Antonio, TX 78209.