June McKenna

June McKenna, born June Winifred Meroux, on June 15, 1914 in Martinez, California passed away peacefully on Sept. 3, 2014 at her home in Pacific Palisades. After her father died in 1916, her mother, Tessie Kelly Meroux, was remarried to Leon ‘Stick’ Threlkeld who adopted June.

June grew up in the San Francisco Bay area, which she loved, and as a child especially enjoyed visiting Yosemite National Park.

In 1943 she married Cyril Conlogue McKenna, a chemical engineer working for Shell. Her gregarious nature and sunny optimism smoothed the couple’s many job-related relocations while raising two sons and a daughter. When Cy ended his long and productive career at Shell in 1979, the couple moved to River Plantation, Texas north of Houston where they hoped to spend their retirement years.

This plan was interrupted in 1994, when a major flood event in the area submerged their house. Feisty octagenarians, June and Cy saved themselves by climbing out a window and scrambling across a roof to reach a small boat dispatched to their rescue. This exciting but trying adventure prompted the couple to move to Orange County, preferring the risk of earthquakes to the ordeal of another deluge.

After Cy’s death in 2004 after 61 years of marriage, June moved to Pacific Palisades to be closer to family. She considered relocating to a retirement community, but decided that she preferred to keep her independence. A member of Corpus Christi, June loved the Palisades and was a regular diner at Modo Mio. A few months ago she celebrated her achievement of centenarian status together with family and friends at a party on her “view patio” behind Sunset overlooking Temescal Canyon.

June is survived by her son Dr. Charles E. McKenna and daughter-in-law Dr. Marie-Claire Tranhuu McKenna of Pacific Palisades; her daughter Dr. Nancy M. McKenna of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; and two grandsons Andrew McKenna-Foster and Daniel McKenna-Foster. She was predeceased by her son Kevin James McKenna, her step-brother Ray Threlkeld and her step-sister Doris Threlkeld Dequine. A funeral service was held at El Toro Cemetery on Sept. 9, 2014.