It is with heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Jennifer Lynn McKinney of Spring Branch, Texas on September 27, 2024 after a two-year battle with cancer.  She was a devoted wife, loving mother of her two sons, and a special Nana to her two granddaughters and her grandson.

Born on January 3, 1949 in Compton, California to Arthur and Kathryn Johnson, Jenny moved to Texas at age fourteen when her father was transferred to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Clear Lake. She and her husband Joe were high school sweethearts and married for 56 years.

Jenny was an avid reader with a passion for the written word. As a young child, she would stay up late reading, pulling the covers up over her head to read by flashlight. This love of reading transitioned into her deep commitment and pride in her education at The University of Texas at San Antonio where she majored in English.  She achieved her bachelor's in 1993 and was awarded the distinction of magna cum laude.

Jenny was greatly involved with her sons' education, volunteering with the PTA and actively fundraising. She was on a committee to name the new Clear Creek High School, Clear Brook. She also organized and managed the Winston School Gala in the late 1980s, which raised a record amount of money and helped to keep the school open.

She also started the tradition of feeding the Smithson Valley Varsity Football team in 1996 when her youngest son Clay brought home three other teammates on a Thursday afternoon for dinner.  A few weeks later, Clay had invited the entire football team for Thursday afternoon dinner.  This event has become a proud Smithson Valley tradition, still going strong 28 years later.

Jenny was an incredibly creative and innovative person.  She took pride in making things beautiful, from planning elaborate and stunning wedding receptions to scrapbooking and making jewelry.  Her passion for interior design translated into helping many of her friends and family decorate and design their homes. She was also a great lover of animals, with dogs in particular holding a special place in her heart.

Jenny is survived by her husband, Joe McKinney Sr., her son Clayton McKinney and his wife Kimberly, daughter-in-law Kristina McKinney, sister Janet Sorce, grandchildren Elena and Brenna McKinney and Michael Rodriguez Jr. and several nephews and nieces.

She was preceded in death by her oldest son Joe McKinney Jr.

Though she is no longer with us, we are incredibly grateful for the joy, laughter, and vibrant life she shared with us. Her presence and the inspiration she gave us will be greatly missed.

We would like to offer special thanks to her sister Jan Sorce who was a constant and caring companion during her two-year battle with cancer.  We would also like to thank the doctors and nurses at UT Medical and University Hospital, including Dr. Georgia McCann, Nurse Practitioner Gail Hutzler, Dr. Mark Bonnen, and Hope Hospice care givers Nurse Erica and CNAs Melissa and Leticia.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests any donations be made to the Gynecological Cancer Fund at University Health Foundation: https://give.classy.org/uhfoundation-gynoncfund