Joseph Marlin McKinney, 78, of Irvine, passed away Monday, April 3rd at the Irvine Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. A native of Frenchburg, he was the son of the late Morthan "Bulger" and Anzy Hasty McKinney. A veteran of the Army, he spent most of his life as a resident of Lexington, Nicholasville, and called Estill County home for the past nearly 20 years. He was known as the "pony man" to children of Fayette County, and "mule man" or "chicken man" to many others. He enjoyed any equine activity, collecting friends everywhere, square dancing, clogging, and training chickens. He was the greeter at the Estill County Animal Clinic, a horse dentist, and a school bus driver. He was preceded in death by his son, David McKinney and his sister, Erma Athleen Phillips. Survivors include his long time companion, Linda Grimes; sons, Joseph Marlin McKinney, Jr., Stevie McKinney, and Scotty McKinney; daughter, Sheila Fugate; brothers, Trevor Douglas McKinney and Neal Tracy McKinney; sisters, Eula Maxine Parrish, Ruthie Ilene Fraley, and Patricia Lou (Bob) McLemore; and many pets. Services will be held on Saturday, April 8th, 2017 at 2:00 PM. Burial with military rights will follow in the Berryman Cemetery. Friends may call anytime after noon on Saturday. Serving as pallbearers will be Lee Grimes, Pat Gill, Brian Thompson, Mel Goolman and Richard Ramsdell. Serving as honorary pallbearer will be Hunter Richardson.