Obituaries

Anita Jeanette McKenney

Photo of Anita Jeanette McKenney
Anita Jeanette McKenney was born on July 16, 1931 in Bethesda, Arkansas to Elbert and Eunice McSpadden. She died on June 24, 2018 at home surrounded by family and friends. She graduated from Little Rock High School in 1948. Although she spent several of her teen years in Little Rock, she always considered Independence County her ancestral home, particularly Chinquapin and Bethesda. She spoke fondly of her memories of both her McSpadden and Latham kin that resided throughout these areas. She attended Harding College. Later she went to work at Southwestern Bell in Batesville and Searcy. In 1952 she met the love of her life, Frank McKenney in Batesville, Arkansas. They were married on October 3, 1953 in Searcy. They built a house, started a business that became McKenny Supply, and raised two children. She loved music and enjoyed nothing more than to raise her voice singing her praised to Jesus in church. The fact that her love of music was passed on to both her children was especially gratifying. She was preceded in death by her parents and her older sister, Kay McSpadden Dowdy. Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 64 plus years, Frank McKenney, son Travis and daughter Sharon (Kenny) Hawk, and three wonderful grandcildren, Paige, Kyly and John Hawk. She also adored her nieces and nephews, George S. (Maureen) Dowdy, Mark (Sharon) Dowdy, Debbie (Scott) Kodhler and Karen (Mike) Williams. The family would like to thank the following who helped care for her and made her last few weeks comfortable, Ashley Yancey, Debbie Cullum, Caitlin O'Dell, Jamie Goslin and Carolyn Bowman. In lieu of flowers, please give a generous donation to Alzheimer's Association and the Searcy Children's Home in her memory. Visitation will be at Powell Funeral Home in Searcy on Thursday, June 28 starting at 6 with the service immediately following. www.powellfuneralhome.net.

Published June 27, 2018

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