She was born in Saco July 15, 1925 the daughter of James and Annie Milliken Shaw. She was a graduate of Scarborough High School in 1942.
Ellie was employed by Saco Lowell Shops as a payroll clerk from 1946 to 1954 and then went to work for IBM as a key puncher from 1955 to 1956. For 20 years, Ellie worked as a manager and supervisor of the City of Saco’s Hot Lunch Program. She loved serving nutritious lunches to the many elementary school children. She met each child in line with a warm smile and love.
Ellie was a loving mother of three sons Wayne, Michael and Scott and grandmother of four grandchildren and a great granddaughter.
The Deer Pond camp in Hollis was a must every summer weekend for years. Ellie loved camp and loved her time with family. Always on hand were camp treats, like blueberry biscuits made only from her hand-picked wild blueberries and her special chocolate cake. In later years, Ellie and Walt loved camping and fishing in the Rangeley Lakes Region.
Mrs. McKenney has been a member of First Parish Congregational Church of Saco for over 60 years.
She is predeceased by her husband, Walter McKenney, a son Scott McKenney, a grandson Jesse McKenney, a brother John Shaw, and sisters Virginia Shaw, Patricia Archer and Barbara Hunt.
Survivors include two sons, Wayne McKenney and wife Kathleen of Parsonsfield and Michael McKenney and wife Rebecca of Saco; grandchildren Adam McKenney of Cornish, Tyler McKenney of Saco, and Colby Beth McKenney of San Francisco, California; one great granddaughter Cecelia Elle McKenney of Saco; first cousin Beverly Bennet of Scarborough; and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank Seal Rock and Beacon Hospice of South Portland for their special care over the years and request memorial contributions be made in Ellie’s honor to Seal Rock Health Care, 88 Harbor Drive, Saco, ME 04072 or Beacon Hospice, 54 Atlantic Place, South Portland, ME 04106.
Family and friends are invited to an hour visitation on Saturday, May 6, 2017 from 11 a.m. to noon at Dennett Craig & Pate Funeral Home, 365 Main St., Saco. A memorial service will be held at noon with the Rev. Merle Steva officiating. Burial will follow at Black Point Cemetery in Scarborough, where she will be laid to rest with her husband and son.
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