AUGUSTA – Leona Ray McKenna, 60, of Augusta passed away August 4, 2023, at Maine General Medical Center. Leona was born June 24, 1963. The daughter of Myrtle A (Tarr McKenna and the late Rodney E. McKenna.

Leona enjoyed spending time with her family, grandchildren and friends. She especially enjoyed being on the ocean. She enjoyed listening to the seagulls, waves crashing on the rocks, the sounds of the sea creatures, sailing and especially skydiving.

Leona is survived by her partner Russell Shea and two stepsons, Ryan and Arren Shea. Siblings Terry White of West Gardiner, Lucena McKenna of Somerville, Rodney McKenna Jr of Augusta, Kevin McKenna of Manchester and Brett McKenna of Augusta. She leaves behind several grandchildren, nieces, nephews, aunts, an uncle and many cousins.

Leona graduated with high honors from the University of Maine at Augusta with a Social Services Candidate Degree in Associates of Arts.

Leona, as member of The Fraternal Order of Eagles particularly enjoyed participating in fundraisers for the Diabetes Research Center in Iowa. She was a big contributor to the local community. From 2002 to 2005, Leona volunteered in the Vision Impairment Community Awareness Team (VICAT) traveling to schools, bus services, civic organizations, and businesses in Kennebeck county to teach the public about blindness, vision impairment, and etiquette as well as laws pertaining to the white cane and guide dogs.

Leona was on the board of the New England Blind Athletic Association Sports Education Camp for the Blind and Visually Impaired Children for several years. The sports camp provides educational workshops to blind and visually impaired youth around the United States in health, Fitness and sports programs. They provide youth with an opportunity to participate in a variety of sports. Where they might ordinarily be excluded from traditional settings, they provide athletes with necessary skills to compete on an equal basis with their sighted peers. Leona also volunteered as a chaperone during the sports camp and organized the donations of meals for the athletes and other volunteers. Being blind herself offered her a unique perspective of the challenges the youth faced.

Since 1994, Leona was a member of the American Council of the Blind of Maine. (ABC Maine). She held positions on the board of directors, served as vice President, and was serving her second sequential year as President of the ABC Maine. She is a founding member of the Pine Tree Guide Dog Users (PTGDU) in 1997 and has served as President and on the board of directors. Leona has testified in front of her city council and the Maine State Legislature for the rights of blind consumers, blind pedestrians, as well as the rights of guide dog handlers. Leona has aided in organizing White Cane Awareness Walks in her community of Augusta to celebrate White Cane Safety Day.

The list of Leona’s contributions to her community and mankind is greater than one could imagine. Her life was full of her own personal struggles due to diabetes since childhood. Her life is a testimony that no obstacle would stop her from caring for others and taking the time to do whatever needed to be done to better someone else’s life.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Arrangements are in the care of Staples Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 53 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner, Maine 04345 where memories and condolences may be shared with the family at http://www.staplesfuneralhome.com.

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