Josephine Sullivan Kenney

Josephine de Grange Sullivan Kenney (Joey) passed away peacefully on November 25, 2015 in the home of her youngest son, Timothy Kenney, in Norman, Oklahoma.  Joey was born October 25, 1920 in New Orleans to Richard L. and Josephine (de Grange) Sullivan.  She spent her childhood in New York City and Ardsley-on-Hudson, NY.  After matriculating at The Madeira School in McLean, Virginia she attended Mt. Holyoke College before leaving in 1940 to marry Lt. John Joseph Kenney, Jr., a recent graduate of West Point.

Joey was preceded in death by her first-born son, John J. Kenney III, in 1963 and her husband of 50 years, Jack, in 1990.  She is survived by her children: Suzanne, Richard, Michael, Christopher, and Timothy; eleven grandchildren: John, Stephen, Laura, Robert, Timothy, William, Kathleen, Suzanne, Harrison, Claire, and Teresa; and eight great-grandchildren.

An army officer’s wife, Joey carved out her own niche by developing her life-long passion for community service.  Wherever she was stationed Joey volunteered for her church and local community service organizations, employing her impressive skills as a fundraiser and organizer to further their efforts.  In McLean, VA she worked tirelessly for the Dominican Retreat House, one year leading an S&H Green Stamp drive that purchased a station wagon for the nuns.  She was often seen knitting shawls, mittens, and other items for various charities.  After retiring to Santa Fe, NM Joey volunteered at the St. Vincent Hospital Auxiliary, the New Mexico Museum System, and the Carmelites Monastery. 

An east coast girl, Joey became truly enchanted with her husband’s birthplace, Santa Fe, and traveled throughout the southwest with her family and friends, sharing her love of camping, fishing, and nature.  She was an avid Oklahoma Sooners football fan, attending their home games when living in Norman from 1970 to 1980.  The Saturday before she passed away, the day of the Oklahoma TCU football game, she asked the same questions she asked before every Oklahoma Sooner football game....  "Who are we playing?”, "Are they any good?" and "Do we have a chance?”

Joey and Jack shared a passion for good friends and travel and frequently combined those loves while on trips to the Peruvian Andes, China, and Europe.  She recently recalled her fondest travel memory of being within an arms-reach of Pope John Paul II at the Vatican.

Joey’s quick wit, mischievous eyes, and dry sense of humor served her well and endeared her to many.  Her strength and commitment in juggling the dual roles of raising a large family and fulfilling the role of a general’s wife, all while moving to a new assignment every few years, enabled her to succeed at both.  She will be fondly remembered by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.