ADA GIVENS McKENNA

Ada Givens McKenna, age 100 yrs., passed away in her sleep on Dec. 18, 2015, at Kennewick Life Care Center in Kennewick, WA.  Special and heartfelt thanks to the nurses and caregivers at Kennewick Life Care Center. 

Mom was born, in Wilburton, OK to Will and Myrtle Givens on April 23, 1915. She was married to William P. McKenna Sr. on Nov. 1, 1933. Prior to the birth of her first child, she worked six years as a switchboard operator for Southwestern Bell Tele. Co.  After the family was moved to Richland, WA in 1944, she remained a housewife and a great mother to her four children.

In 1952, with her children in school, she became a Credit Clerk for Sears Roebuck in Richland, WA. She was later employed by General Electric Co. and other Hanford Contractors until her retirement. After retirement, she and dad purchased a 5^th wheel travel trailer and traveled from the west coast to the east coast, from Canada to Arizona with a home base in Richland, WA. They eventually settled in Yuma, AZ. After dad’s health declined, they moved back to the Tri-Cities and settled in Kennewick, WA.

Mom had a great sense of humor. She loved to play the accordion and, until her mid 80’s, did so for various retirement homes in the Tri-Cities.

She is survived by her four children, William P. (Virginia) McKenna Jr., Benton City, WA, Janice (Tom) Taylor, Fort Myers, FL, John (Phylis) McKenna, West Richland, WA, and Beth (Leonard) Northrop, Kennewick, WA. We are all proud to have had her as MOM. She is further survived by a niece, Dr. Billye K. Givens of Wilburton, OK. She had 11grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, W.P. McKenna Sr.; parents, Will and Myrtle Givens; sister, Hazel Jarvis and brother, Bill Givens. 

Requiem Mass will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 29^th at 2:00 pm, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Kennewick, WA.