Jeanne Lucille McKichan

April 24, 1929 - October 29, 2023

Jeanne McKichan, aged 94, a long-time resident of N.E. Portland and long-time member of Westminster Presbyterian and later Lake Grove Presbyterian Church, passed away peacefully on October 29, 2023, at MorningStar of Beaverton.

Jeanne was born April 24, 1929, in Chicago, Illinois. She was the oldest of two children born to Cecil and Dorothy Hamilton. Her younger brother, Richard (Dick) Hamilton, preceded her in 2009. At a very young age, Jeanne's family moved to Portland, Oregon, where she attended Kennedy Elementary, Beaumont Grade School, and U.S. Grant High School. Her family moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon, where she finished high school at Klamath Union. After graduation, Jeanne attended The University of Oregon for two years where she was a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. She later worked for Bonneville Power Administration and Jantzen Knitting Mills in Portland.

She met her future husband, Milburn (Russ) McKichan, on a blind date in 1949. They were married in 1950 in Forest Grove, Oregon. The two were married 57 years before Russ's death in 2007. Jeanne and Russ enjoyed traveling. They attended a family reunion in Scotland and took cruises to Hawaii and Alaska. They also enjoyed taking road trips to family reunions, visiting several national parks, and spending time on the Oregon coast.

Jeanne worked in catering most of her life. She loved being a part of happy occasions. From events for the Portland Opera to countless wedding receptions. Just as she should have slowed down, she started working at the Racquet Club as their sous chef. Jeanne’s many volunteer activities included: Westminster Church, PTA, Meals on Wheels, League of Women Voters, Emanuel Hospital & Albertina Kerr. She enjoyed playing the piano, knitting, reading, correcting grammar, gardening, playing bridge, cooking, and baking pies (the best)! She loved to hear and tell a good story or joke.

Jeanne was enormously proud of her family, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She is survived by four daughters, Susan Applegate (Jim), Patty Achterman (Tom), Sarah Kiefel (Daniel), and Marybeth Meyer (Paul), a son Richard (Dick) McKichan who preceded her in 1981, ten grandchildren, and eleven great-grandchildren.

There will be a private memorial at a later date. Contributions may be made to Albertina Kerr Center or a charity of your choice.