Sunday, March 23, 2025
With love and gratitude, we celebrate the life of Anita McKinney, who passed peacefully at her home, surrounded by family on January 25, 2025, at the age of 89.
Anita was born on March 10, 1935, in Boise, Idaho to Byrd and Mildred McGuire. From the beginning, she carried a warmth and kindness that touched everyone she met. In 1955, she married the love of her life, Vernon, and together they built not just a home, but a haven for family, friends, and the community of Leavenworth. Their front porch became a gathering place, where they spent countless days and evenings visiting with neighbors, sharing laughter, and taking in the breathtaking mountain views of Tumwater Ridge.
Anita’s heart was always open and never ran out of love to share—to her children, their friends, and the many foster children she and Vernon lovingly guided through life. She had a way of making everyone feel at home, ensuring that no one ever left her table hungry or without a little extra wisdom, smiles, and laughter to carry with them.
Her love for life was evident in the little things: collecting over 1,000 pairs of salt and pepper shakers from around the world, crafting puzzles with quiet determination, traveling to new places with Vern, and enjoying her weekly Bridge games with dear friends. She and Vernon were beacons in the community, helping to shape the town’s future while keeping its heart rooted in connection and tradition.
Anita is now reunited with her beloved husband, Vernon; her son, Bob; her parents, Byrd and Mildred; and her brother, Henry. She leaves behind a profound legacy of love in her sons, Andrew of Mount Vernon, WA, and James (Rita) of Leavenworth, WA; her brother, John (Wanda) of Nampa, ID; her four grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Though she is no longer here in body, her spirit lives on in the people she touched and the town she helped shape.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In honor of Anita, take a moment today to sit outside, breathe in the beauty of the world, and share a kind word with a neighbor.
