Barry Jourolmon McKean

Elizabeth Barry Jourolmon McKean, age 78, passed away at home on Tuesday, July 22, 2014 after an 8 year struggle with cancer. Her husband and children were present at the time of her passing. Barry was born January 2, 1936 in Knoxville, Tennessee to Leon Jourolmon and Martha Prettyman Jourolmon. Barry's early years were spent in Nashville, Tennessee where her father was the Railroad and Public Utility Commissioner for the State of Tennessee. In 1950 her family moved to Portland, Oregon where she graduated from U.S. Grant High School. She attended Whitman College for one year, then transferred to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, which was her father's alma mater. In the fall of 1952, in Knoxville, she met her future husband, John S. McKean. Barry returned to Portland to complete her college work at Lewis & Clark College graduating in June of 1954 with a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages at the age of 18. She then moved to Washington D.C. where she worked at the Pentagon and later at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis where her husband-to-be was enrolled at the Naval Academy. On the 8th of June 1957 she was married to Lt. John S. McKean, USAF in the Naval Academy Chapel. The next 13 years were spent raising the children during her husband's military assignments in Virginia, Oklahoma, Turkey and Ohio. In 1970 the family moved to Anchorage where she resided until her passing. In addition to her B.A degree Barry earned the Chartered Life Underwriter and the Chartered Financial Consultant degrees from American University while employed with the New York Life Insurance Company. She was the President of the Southern Alaska Life Underwriters in 1982-1983 and President of the Alaska Association of Life Underwriters in 1985-1986. In 1988 she was honored as the Agent of the Year by the Alaska State Association of Life Underwriters. From 1987 until 2007 Barry was an active partner and office manager at Home Inspection Service, a small business owned by her and her husband. Barry was also an active member of the American Business Women's Association for many years during her time with New York Life Insurance Company. Barry was also a long time member of the Anchorage Concert Chorus, first joining in the early 70's and remaining an active member until the spring of 2014 when her health prevented further participation. Barry was very active in the life of the First Congregational Church of Anchorage for 40 years. During that time she served as Moderator for the congregation, directed the Church Choir for 10 years, sang in the choir, played in the Northern Lights Ringers and filled numerous other church positions until her illness prevented further participation. Barry is survived by her husband John S. (Steve) McKean, and her four children and spouses: John S, McKean, Jr and Katie Julien of Blue Ridge, Texas; Melody Anne Stone and Michael Stone of Tigard, Oregon; William Leon McKean and Tuesday Gail Smith McKean of Anchorage and Mary Helen Sindorf and Paul Sindorf, Jr. of Palmer, Alaska. She was the extremely proud Grandmother of her six grandchildren: Thomas Walton McKean, William Taylor McKean & Kathryn Elizabeth McKean of Blue Ridge, Texas andAmanda Elizabeth Stone, Alison Marie Stone & Adrianna Elise Stone of Tigard, Oregon. She is also survived by her brother, Leon Jourolmon, IV of Athens, Georgia and her sister, Myvanwy Shirley of Vaughn,Washington. Barry was a beautiful Southern lady of grace and understanding but she was also a very independent soul who was a feminist long before the word became popular. She insisted on using her maiden name when she joined New York Life to prevent anyone from claiming she was using her husband's name and military rank to further her career. Her proudest accomplishment, though, was raising four wonderful children who have each gone on to successful lives but remained part of a very close knit family that shared their love for her to the very end. The family is grateful to Providence Hospice for their assistance and guidance during the final days of her life. We also would like to thank Dr. Max Rabinowitz and his staff for their loving care and treatment during her eight years of cancer treatment. A special blessing was the enduring and loving friendship of Ms Nancy Caudill, whose presence at her bedside during her final days was greatly appreciated by the family. At her request Barry was cremated and no formal services will be held. Her ashes will be spread in several meaningful locations in Alaska and the East Coast of the lower 48 by her husband at a later date. Arrangements by Cremation Society of Alaska