Allen Mckenney

Allen Edwin McKenney, 91, of Hillsboro, Oregon died on Tuesday, December 27, 2022, in Clackamas, Oregon. Allen was his family’s true north and will be greatly missed.

Allen was born August 9, 1931, in Kintyre, North Dakota to Lawrence and Ellen (Kinonen) McKenney and had four brothers - Lawrence, Vincent, Martin, and Earl - and one sister, Ruth Ann.

Allen attended school in St. Louis, MO but quit after 8th grade to help support his family. At only 14 in 1944, Allen came to Oregon on a train, alone, from St. Louis, MO to reunite with his family.

When Allen was 15, he met the love of his life, Thelma Lou Jarrell, while he was working for her father, Walter. They married on December 22, 1953 while on leave from the Navy and went on to have three children, Mike, Susan, and Julie. After the Navy and marrying the love of his life, he later earned his GED and an AA degree in Electronics.

Allen, a Korean War Veteran, served in the United States Navy from December 16, 1950, until May 16, 1954. After living in several cities around Oregon - Gresham, Boring, Forest Grove, Portland, and Vanport just to name a few - Allen and Thelma settled in Hillsboro.

Allen - a licensed builder, and real estate agent - and Thelma were the owners of A&T Custom Plastics, where he worked for many years building cabinetry. After officially retiring in 1996 at age 65, to get him out of the house Allen would work odd jobs, such as a bagger at Safeway and a traveling cigarette display installer.

Allen, a member of the United Church of Christ, was also a volunteer with Americorp alongside his wife, where he read to kids and also helped teach kids to read and understand math.

Allen’s greatest joy in life was his family and everything that revolved around his kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids. He enjoyed card games, Yahtzee, and cribbage, and liked to go on road trips that often ended at a casino.

Allen had a special talent for fishing but never caught a thing. He just enjoyed being outside. He also loved building, puzzles, reading, and watching golf. And he loved to argue, even if he didn’t believe in his stance in the argument – he would argue for the sake of arguing.

Allen was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Ellen McKenney, his wife Thelma Lou, and his brothers, Lawrence, Vincent, Martin, and Earl. Allen is survived by his son Michael McKenney, daughters Susan McKenney and Julie McKenney; grandchildren Leah McKenney, Chris McKenney, and Kelly Steele; and great-grandchildren Rachel, Jessie, Amber, Jennifer, Roy, Bailey, and Elsa.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that a donation be made in Allen’s name to the Dementia Society of America. https://www.dementiasociety.org/