Lee Ann McNerney

It is with deep sadness we announce the death of Lee Ann McNerney on the 7th of August, 2025. Lee Ann was 61 years old. She was born to Jerry and Carole McNerney at Salem Memorial Hospital in May of 1964. Lee Ann was raised in Woodburn, Oregon and graduated from Woodburn High School, excelling in cross country and long distance track. Like most of the youth in Woodburn at that time you could find Lee Ann in the berry fields or swimming at the public pool. She eventually became manager of the Woodburn Public Pool.

After graduating from Woodburn HS Lee Ann studied at Pacific Lutheran University and Portland State University, graduating with a BA in Education and Spanish. At this time she continued to excel in cross country and track at both schools. Following her graduation she joined the Peace Corps where she was placed in the Dominican Republic and worked in remote villages building latrines and making sanitation improvements. When not working on projects she played guitar and sang in local Dominican restaurants. Unfortunately, after extending her time there and preparing to return home she was involved in a bus accident where she lost her leg and many people died.

The injuries from this accident did not slow Lee Ann down. Her indomitable spirit led her to swim competitively and train for the 1992 Para-Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. She proudly represented the United States Para-Olympic team and cherished the challenges of the events. She was an inspiration to us all.

Following the Para-Olympics Lee Ann pursued advanced degrees in Education. She completed her Master's at Columbia University in New York, and her PhD in Education at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. Soon after she secured a position at Eastern Oregon University as a Professor of Education where she taught for over 22 years.

Lee Ann will be remembered for her unwavering faith in God, her humor, wit, intelligence, generosity, and unrestrained laughter. She was a loving daughter and exceptionally wonderful sister and aunt as well as a devoted caretaker of her cats. She is survived by her sister, Jeri Lyn Reinertsen (Chris) of Tigard, Oregon and her brother, Jon McNerney (Cathy) of London, England; her nieces Maggie, Caitlin, Madeline, Gillen and her nephew Connor.

A private family burial is being planned.

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