Elaine Kay McKinley

April 14, 1937 - January 29, 2022

Elaine was born Elaine Kay Marten on April 14, 1937 at Fort Sheridan in Illinois. She is survived by her Husband Thomas, her son Michael, her daughter-in-law Suzette, her grandsons Taylor and Trevor, Trevor’s wife Kaylie and their son Calvin and her sister, Diane Fireovid. She graduated from Highland High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1955 and attended the University of New Mexico. She was married to Thomas McKinley in 1961 and they moved to San Diego, California. Their son Michael was born in 1963. In addition to being an amazing homemaker, wife and mother, Elaine was active in a number of Michael’s school and sporting activities. Her most cherished memory was serving as the “Team Mom” for Michael’s little league baseball teams. In 1979, she chose to study nursing, and she became a Certified Nursing Assistant. She worked as a CNA at White Sands La Jolla, a Senior Living Community for ten years. In the early 1990s, Elaine left White Sands to work with her husband on aerospace research projects for the United States Air Force. She worked side-by-side with him and became proficient in the use of computer graphics programs including Adobe Illustrator. She was responsible for generating all of the graphics, including advanced ballistic missile designs, using numerical data generated by her husband. After her husband’s retirement, Elaine returned to her true love of creating amazing artwork. She became active in a number of arts and craft organizations, including San Diego Brush Whackers and San Diego Polymer Clay Guild. Elaine passed away on January 29, 2022. She will be remembered for her remarkable strength in overcoming many serious illnesses over the past twenty years and for her ability to always have a smile on her face. She never complained and she had nothing but kind words to say about everyone in her life. She will truly be missed by all.