In Remembrance: Steve McKenney

Steve McKenney passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Steve was born July 14, 1960, in El Paso, Texas, and spent his formative years between El Paso and Sudbury, Massachusetts. After college, Steve and his wife, Becky, spent nine years running a small bar and Restaurant, called McKenney’s Pub. Steve went on to build a 34-year career in the wood products industry working as an Environmental, Health, and Safety Manager. He enjoyed the work and was proud to make a difference in people’s lives and make the workplace safer. Steve’s work took him and Becky across the country. They lived in Minnesota, Idaho, North Carolina, Louisiana, and Oregon. They have recently been preparing to move one last time to North Carolina, where they planned to spend their retirement years. Steve enjoyed all the places he lived and the people he met along the way. In Minnesota, he enjoyed camping and being a scout leader. In Idaho, Steve loved backpacking in the Sawtooth Mountains and being a scout leader. In North Carolina, Steve enjoyed time at the beach and the diversity of the state’s landscape, from the coastal plain to the mountains. In Louisiana, Steve enjoyed the rich culture that existed in the small community they lived in. In Oregon, Steve enjoyed spending time in the mountains, at the coast, and in the beauty of living in wine country. Everywhere he lived, Steve was active in his church. Steve is survived by his wife of 40 years, Becky, three sons, Cy (Andrea) McKenney, Jeremy McKenney, and Reed (Amanda) Asplund, along with seven grandchildren. Each grandchild was a special light to him. Steve is also survived by his brother, Russ McKenney, and sister Andra McKenney-Lang. Steve was preceded in death by His parents, Cyril and Bertha McKenney, and his parents-in-law, Lee Palmer and Edith Beal. A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at Redeemer’s Fellowship in Roseburg. Memorial donations may be sent to CASA of Douglas County or the Roseburg Rescue Mission.