Article: Mourners pay last respects to 'Mr. Parade,' Ed Kinney

PLEASANTON -- It rained on the memorial service of "Mr. Parade," Ed Kinney, but that didn't stop hundreds of mourners from attending an outdoor ceremony Wednesday at the county fairgrounds.

In accordance with Kinney's last wishes, friends and family pinned smiley faces to their lapels, munched corn dogs and chuckled beneath their umbrellas while those who knew him best told sometimes irreverent stories about his life.

Kinney, who died April 29 at age 67 after a battle with cancer, kept his famous sense of humor to the end. He didn't want his send- off to be somber.

A Pleasanton resident for 38 years, Kinney arranged for his memorial service to be held at one of his favorite places: the ...

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