Jere Wesley McKenny
OKLAHOMA CITY - Jere Wesley McKenny passed away February 3, 2023 at his home in Oklahoma City. Jere was born to Jere Claus McKenny and Juanita Hunter McKenny in Okmulgee, Oklahoma February 14, 1929.
Jere graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1952 with a BS and master’s degree in Geological Engineering. At the University he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and several honorary university organizations.
In 1953, Jere joined Kerr-McGee Corporation as a geologist in Oklahoma City mid-year he was inducted in the U.S. Army where he served as a POL (Petroleum, Oil and Lubricants) instructor.
After his service in 1957, he met and married Anne Ross Stewart. He always said that was the smartest decision of his entire life. They were happily married sixty-five years. In 1958 they had their first son Jim.
They moved to Amarillo, Texas in 1959 where Jere was Division Exploration Manager for Kerr-McGee. Their second son, Bob was born there in 1961. They returned to Oklahoma City in 1965.
Jere was promoted to President and Chief Officer in 1983.He led Kerr-McGee into the North Sea where the company participated in the discovery of several major oil fields with original estimated reserves of 1.7 billion barrels of oil and 2.7 trillion cubic feet of gas. In 1992, a year before he retired, 45 percent of Kerr-McGees oil production was from the North Sea.
Jere was a member of multiple professional organizations including the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG), the AAPG foundation, Exploration Committee of the API, OKC Geological Society. He was also a recipient of one of the most coveted honors in the oil and gas industry, membership in The All-American Wildcatters.
From 1988 to 1990, Jere was chairman of the Allied Arts of Oklahoma City. He was also a member of the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club. Most importantly, he was a lifelong Episcopalian and a member of All Souls Episcopal Church.
After retiring from Kerr-McGee in 1993, he continued his participation in the oil business through McKenny Energy Company. Jere thoroughly enjoyed spending time at his lake house in Eufaula. His favorite pastimes were bird and duck hunting, sporting clays, and fly fishing on the Platte River in southern Wyoming.
Jere Wesley McKenny is survived by his loving and devoted wife Anne, and his sons Jim McKenny and Bob McKenny. Jim is married to Josie McKenny and their children are Amanda Mills and her husband Jason Mills, David McKenny and his fiancé Brooke Malherbe, Carly McKenny, Elise Stephenson, Emory Stephenson, and Ford Stephenson. Amanda and Jason are parents to two of Jere’s great grandchildren, Mason and Jayde Mills.
Bob is married to Liz McKenny and their children are Robert McKenny Jr, Rebecca and her husband Tanner Howe. Rebecca and Tanner are parents to Jere’s third great grandchild Wesley Howe.
The family would like to thank Rosario Escobar and Michelle Creel for their care and friendship.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Oklahoma Geological Foundation, City Rescue Mission or a charity of your choice. A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 pm, Thursday, February 9, 2023 at All Souls’ Episcopal Church in Oklahoma City.