James S. McKinna Jr.

YOUNGSTOWN — James S. “Jimmy” McKinna Jr., 73, of Youngstown’s West Side, passed away Thursday, March 19, 2026, at Hospice House, surrounded by the love and comfort of his wife, Jeanne; his sister, Sandy Basora; and his nephew, Eric “Diggy” Basora, following an extended respiratory illness.

Jimmy was born Sept. 18, 1952, in Fort Rucker, Alabama, a son of the late James McKinna Sr. and Sarah McLaney McKinna, while his father was stationed in the U.S. Army. He came to the Youngstown area as an infant, made it his lifelong home, and was a graduate of Chaney High School.

Jimmy’s working years reflected both his strong work ethic and his heart for others. He was employed at Youngstown Sheet & Tube in the Open Hearth, worked as a truck driver, and at Snap-on Tools, before ultimately finding his true calling as a drug and alcohol counselor. He proudly served at the Neil Kennedy Recovery Clinic for 18 years, retiring in 2014.

Deeply admired and respected, Jimmy had a profound impact on those he helped. His compassion, honesty, and unwavering commitment to others set countless individuals on a path toward recovery and hope. A role model to many, he celebrated 33 years of sobriety and remained an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous and Cocaine Anonymous. Even in retirement and throughout his illness, Jimmy continued to support others, always striving to make a difference in their lives.

Jimmy proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the 1970s as a paratrooper, sharpshooter and radio operator.

Jimmy found his greatest joy in the simple blessings of life — especially the time he shared with his beloved wife, Jeanne. Together, they enjoyed biannual fishing trips to Oak Island, North Carolina, a place he fondly considered his home away from home. For 17 years, they created cherished memories reeling in king and Spanish mackerel and simply enjoying life side by side.

Closer to home, Jimmy also looked forward to local weekend fishing trips to Lake Milton. He took great joy in sharing his fresh catches with his doctors, family and friends — and, of course, enjoying them himself. In addition to his love of fishing, Jimmy was an avid reader, enjoyed word search puzzles, and could often be found playing games in the evenings. In his younger years, he also enjoyed deer hunting.

Jimmy often said he was not lucky, but blessed — especially when speaking of his love story with Jeanne. Their bond, spanning more than 20 years, was one he treasured deeply. He considered her his greatest blessing and his best friend, and together they built a life rooted in love, faith and unwavering devotion. They were united in marriage June 6, 2011.

Jimmy will be deeply missed by his loving wife, Jeanne (Frech) McKinna; his daughter, Chastity (Mark) Young; his granddaughter, Sarah (Rob) McGill; and his three great-grandchildren, Aubree, Robbie and Maverick. He also leaves two sisters, Sandy (Danny) Basora and Barbara (Mike) Swiger; his dearest friend, John Gornto “Papa John,” of North Carolina; his two beloved ragdoll cats, JazzieGirl and Jitterbug; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his AA sponsor, George Canavan; and his niece, Corina Hall.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Chuck Wilkins, Dr. Tim Barreiro, TLC Home Health Care, the staff of St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, Mercy Health’s Palliative and Hospice Care teams, and all of the compassionate caregivers at Hospice House for the exceptional care and kindness shown to Jimmy.

A celebration of life will be held from 12 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, June 6, 2026, at Kinnick Funeral Home, 477 N. Meridian Rd., Youngstown, marking what would have been Jimmy and Jeanne’s 15th wedding anniversary. A luncheon will follow.