Mary Frances Kenney

Mary Frances Quinn Kenney was born to Leo Frederick and Jessie Quinn on May 3, 1924 in Fairbury, Nebraska and died, age 99, on Wednesday August 16, 2023 in Lincoln, Nebraska. She was the 3rd child and second daughter of the Quinns who lost their first daughter as an infant. Mary Frances was the sister of Lyle Quinn of Fairbury and the namesake of the Grandmother she never met, a founder of Fairbury who died in the 1918 flu epidemic.

A 1942 graduate of Fairbury High School, Mary Frances attended Doane College in Crete, Nebraska where she met Kenneth Jack Kenney. They married at Riverside Cathedral in New York City on October 26, 1944 (no family present) upon Jack’s graduation from Midshipman’s School at Columbia University. Mary Frances returned to finish her degree at Doane while Jack served in WWII. Mary Frances graduated in 1946 and they moved to Omaha where Jack attended medical school and their daughter, Marilee, was born.

They lived briefly in St. Paul, Minnesota, (Jack’s internship) where their son, Jim, was born then in Kimball, Nebraska before returning to Fairbury where Jack joined the Fairbury Clinic, and their son Mike was born. Mary Frances participated in Fairbury’s civic life while raising their children and staying close with her widowed Mother.

In 1962, Mary Frances returned to Doane to polish her French then began teaching French at Fairbury High School. She continued as a French teacher until the year 2000 when, at age 76, she retired after teaching for 25 years at Rockbridge High School in Columbia, Missouri.

Mary was a world traveler---often taking grandchildren and students with her or joining tour groups with friends. She made lifetime friends of many she met during those travels and, as a perpetual educator, brought home lessons and information for friends and family.

At age 94, Mary moved to Lincoln, Nebraska living independently next door to her youngest son, Mike and his wife Melody.

Mary is survived by her three children and their spouses (which she called “spice”) Marilee Kenney Hunt/Carlton Hunt, James William Kenney/Donna Kenney and Michael Lyle Kenney/Melody Kenney; ten grandchildren, Andrea Renee Bascom, Ehren Quinn Hunt/Jessica, Christian James Michael Hunt/Laura, Jessica Ann Rasmussen/Joseph, Tamah Elizabeth Vest/Shawn, Beth Ann Weishahn/Tyler, Rachel Kenney Varner/ Matthew, Rebekah (Bekah) Marie Thomas/Benjamin, Paul Michael Kenney/Catelyn, and Frances (Franny) Kenney; and twenty-five (with #26 arriving shortly) great grandchildren, Sara Renee Bascom, John Gabriel Bascom, Lydia Anne Hunt, John Michael Friel, Tyler Vest, Kimberly Christine Rasmussen, Elizabeth Ann Rasmussen, Abigail Marie Rasmussen, Eva Marie Hunt, Colin James Vest, Jashawn Singh Bassi, Quinn James Hunt, Jayden Singh Bassi, Roan Varner, Cora Quinn Thomas, Christian Hayes Hunt, Pax Hunter Thomas, Avery Juniper Weishahn, and Daisy Varner----with Maria Quinn Kenney due to arrive soon.

Although her physical presence has departed, her energy, enthusiasm, love of life, strength of will, and lessons in humanity remain for those whom she taught and those who knew and loved her.

Internment in Fairbury Cemetery will be September 1, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. Central Standard Time.  A virtual Memorial Service will be held at a later date via Zoom; contact marilee@thehunts.org for date and link.