HARVEY IVAN McKERNON

1950 - 2024

Harvey Ivan McKernon, born Aug. 18, 1950, in Torrence, California, sadly passed Dec. 12, 2024, in the comfort of his home, surrounded by loved ones.
Harvey, fondly known as Mac, grew up in Grover City, California, where he lived with his parents, Ivan and Marie McKernon, and two older brothers. In 1969, he enlisted in the United States Air Force until he completed his term of service, being honorably discharged just after meeting his beloved wife in Dardanelles, California. They settled in Milpitas, California, until moving their two children to Sonora, California, in 1984, seeking a quiet small-town home for their children to grow up in. Mac worked hard to provide a safe and secure home for his family. He would commute to the Bay Area for work for two years until he joined the California Department of Corrections in 1986.
Mac was a gentle, kind and generous man who loved music, animals, reading books on history, working on his 1953 M37 truck and his pride and joy, his 1973 Super Beetle. All who knew him knew of his incredible kindness and strength, which gave him the capability to overcome lymphoma and leukemia twice after retiring early to care for his ailing wife. Sadly, the same treatments that saved his life compromised his organs which led to his passing.
Mac was preceded in death by his wife, Kathleen McKernon; and his brother, Robert McKernon.
He is survived by his brother, Ronald McKernon; two children, Christopher McKernon, and wife, Amanda, and Mary Olson, and husband, Kris; five grandsons, Michael McKernon, Christopher Lough, and Jayden, Logan and Evan Wynn; and three great-grandchildren, Kaden and Annastasia Lough and Zeraya Wynn. Also, dearest of friends, Laura Hayden-Myer and Matt and Nicole Gilmore.
A celebration of life will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, at the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Posse Clubhouse, 19130 Rawhide Road, Jamestown, California.