Patricia (Patty) Ann (McAuliffe) McKinnon died at her home in Oak Harbor, Wash. on Oct. 18, 2022, at the age of 78. She was born Aug. 25, 1941, in Phoenix, Ariz. Patty moved with her Air Force family from Phoenix to Guam, then to the Philippines, then to California, and then on to Tacoma, Wash., where she graduated from St. Leo’s Catholic High School in 1962. She then graduated from Seattle University in 1966 with a B.A. in Education.
Patty then became a teacher in Department of Defense schools in Labrador, Canada and the Philippines. In 1977, she decided to come back home and was hired by Oak Harbor High School as an English teacher. It was at Oak Harbor High School that she met her husband, Patrick McKinnon, a fellow teacher. They were married on Dec. 20, 1980, at NAS Whidbey.
Patty put down deep roots while living in Oak Harbor. While working as a teacher, Patty pursued her love of cooking by running a successful catering business. Patty was a long-time member of the Oak Harbor Yacht Club and served as Commodore and Rear Commodore. Patty was an active member of Soroptimist International of Oak Harbor, the Oak Harbor Garden Club, the Birthday Club, and the Polly Harpole Hospital Guild at Whidbey Health, and was a member of the New Leaf Board of Directors.
Patty is survived by her two sisters: Maureen Shriver and husband Steven of Bellevue, Wash., Eileen McAuliffe of Bellevue; and three step children: Tom McKinnon and wife Kristin of Grand Island, Neb., Elizabeth McKinnon and husband Terry Quattlebaum of Mount Vernon, and Bill McKinnon and wife Michelle of Woodinville. Nine grandchildren also survive. She was preceded in death by her husband Patrick McKinnon, her parents, John and Effie (Gillis) McAuliffe, her sister, Kathleen Pasco, and her stepdaughter, Kathleen McGuinness.
Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Oak Harbor, on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Chris Hoiland as Celebrant. Private family committal rites to follow at Sunnyside Cemetery, Coupeville at a later date. Memorials may be made to St. Augustine Church Memorial Fund or the National Kidney Foundation. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories and condolences at www.wallinfuneralhome.com.
