Beverly Anne McKenney

Beverly Anne McKenney was born on December 17, 1935, and died on February 13, 2023. She was adopted at birth by Baxter Seawell Howell, and Bylie Marie Howell, and as an only child was provided lessons and opportunities by her parents. She excelled at ice skating, piano, oboe, and scholastics. She was drum major and valedictorian of Helix High School, and received a merit scholarship from Bank of America that paid her college tuition at University of California, Berkeley.

She met her future husband, Marvin Joe McKenney (Joe), while still in high school, when they both played in the San Diego Community Band. While Joe completed undergraduate and medical school at Stanford, she completed undergraduate and obtained her doctor of pharmacy at The University of California, Berkeley, in San Francisco. They attended both rival high schools and rival colleges, and “The Play”(Google it—the Stanford band ran onto the football field while the Golden Bears were running back the game winning touchdown on the final play) was hotly debated throughout their lives.

By the time the couple moved to Ann Arbor for Joe’s residency program, daughter Terry had been born, and son Frank Steven (Steve) was born before they left Ann Arbor for East Lansing. Joe was one of the founding physicians of Lansing Ophthalmology, P.C., and Beverly worked as a pharmacist at Hinshaw Drug, Carriage Hills Drug Store, and at several other locations on-call. They developed a passion for golf, and built a cottage on Walloon Lake that still is the location of many family gatherings. They adopted MSU, and had season tickets for football, basketball and Lansing Symphony. Beverly was an active volunteer with Junior League of Lansing, and served on numerous boards of directors including at Wharton Center, Lansing Symphony and Walnut Hills Country Club.

Beverly began recording books for the blind through the Onlooker group in the 1970s, first reading books onto 8-track tapes, then learning Braille to transcribe science textbooks for blind students. She pursued a lengthy education process to become one of the few music braille transcribers in North America, and her services were much in demand by teachers and individual students across the country. She co-edited the primary textbook on music Braille, and served on the Braille Authority of North America Board for many years.

When Joe retired, they moved to Black Diamond in Lecanto, Florida, and enjoyed golf and world travel with a close group of friends. They always spent their summers at the cottage, enjoying family time and more golfing.

After Joe’s death in 2009, Beverly continued living in Lecanto, returning to Walloon Lake in the summers, with Steve driving her both ways. They enjoyed their road trips, laughing at Janet Evanovich books on tape and patronizing favorite restaurants on the way. In 2019, the onset of dementia necessitated her move back to East Lansing to be closer to family, which allowed her to participate in many family events including her grandson’s wedding in May, 2022. As her memory faded, she continued to celebrate the knowledge that her granddaughter was completing the circle and obtaining her doctorate at University of California, Berkeley.

Beverly is survived by daughter Terry McKenney Person (John), of Williamston, son Steve McKenney (Shaunee) of Petoskey, grandchildren John C. Person (Dayna Dines Person, D.O.), and Erin S. Person, and step-grandchildren Brooke and Kaleigh Blanchard.

The family wishes to thank Beverly’s caregivers at Crosaires and Riverwind, and most of all Donna Helsel for their frequent lunch excursions. We also are grateful to Hospice of Lansing, P.C. for ensuring her final days were pain free and peaceful.

There will be no public services. The family will celebrate her life in private in Petoskey this summer. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Hospice of Lansing, Lansing Symphony Orchestra, or Walloon Lake Association and Nature Conservancy, in her name.