Jesse Wilbur McKinney

Jesse W. McKinney, 78, a 27-year Wenatchee resident, passed away at his home in East Wenatchee on Tuesday, June 13, 2017. He was born on November 6, 1938 at Colome, South Dakota to the late Arthur Ellsworth and Josephine Ella (Wells) McKinney. He was raised and received his early education in South Dakota prior to the family moving to Mount Vernon, Washington. He attended Mount Vernon High School and graduated with the class of 1956. He continued his education at Western Washington University prior to Entering the U.S. Air Force in June of 1961. He trained at Lacklund A.F.B. near San Antonio, Texas. He then served in Intelligence as a Radio Specialist on Shimea. He received his honorable discharge in June of 1963. While he was in the service, his parents had purchased Apple Orchards in Omak and he went to work in his parents' orchard. During the mid 1960's, he moved his family to Seattle, where he went to work at the Reynolds Aluminum Plant. They returned to Omak to work with his father in the Orchards in the early 1970's. Later, they moved to Spokane where he worked for A.S.E. Pacific Aluminum Company. In 1978, they moved to Olympia and Jesse commuted to work in Portland at Gifford Hill, a sheet metal manufacturing company. In 1986, He moved to Wenatchee and became an Automobile Salesman at Max May Motors, "Max May's". He met and was later married to Frances L. "Fran" Harpster on November 23, 1990 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. They made their home together in Wenatchee. He later went to work as an Automobile Salesman for Leonard Evans. He retired in 2003, and Jesse and Fran moved to make their home in the Las Vegas area. They remained in Las Vegas until moving to their home in East Wenatchee in 2013. He loved animals, horses, donkeys and dogs, especially his dog "Megan. He enjoyed gardening and his roses and You Tube Videos. Most of all he loved his "Franie". Jesse is survived by his wife of 26 years, Frances "Fran" McKinney, East Wenatchee; two daughters and one son-in-law, Sue & Randy LeDoux, Shelton, WA and Cydney Harpster, East Wenatchee; one sister, Darlene Gilbertson, Orting, WA one brother and sister-in-law, James "Jim" & Eileen McKinney, Olympia, WA; five grandchildren, Makenzie Foster, Bellingham, WA, Brett Wennerberg, East Wenatchee, Ryan LeDoux, Maya LeDoux and Isabele LeDoux all of Shelton, WA and six great grandchildren, Kaiden Kennedy, Bellingham, WA, Makenna Wennerberg, Ephrata, WA, Karlee Wennerberg and Jorydn Sicles both of East Wenatchee, Landon Foster and Garrett Foster both of Bellingham, WA. He was preceded in death by his parents. You are invited to visit his tribute online at www.HeritageMemorialChapel.com and leave a memory for the family. Arrangements are in the care of Heritage Memorial Chapel, East Wenatchee.

Jesse Wilbur McKinney

November 6, 1938 - June 13, 2017