Kem Joanna Tenney MacNeille left her earthly home on Thursday, July 16, 2015, at the age of 52. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 24, at the Downtown Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, located at 300 N. 11th St. in Show Low, where the visitation will begin one hour prior. The concluding service will follow at the Alpine Cemetery.
She is the daughter of Lewis Noble Tenney Sr. and Velma Joanna Westover.
She leaves behind her children, Rhett Alan MacNeille and wife Kayla, Kade Elliot MacNeille and wife Perla, Seth Noble MacNeille, Paige Adele MacNeille, Ty Von and Brooke Anna. Her primary life and love was her children.
She was born in Phoenix, but grew up from kindergarten to eighth grade in Upland, Calif. She graduated from Joseph City High School in 1980, where she was recognized as Outstanding Student of the Year by her teachers.
She completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Education in December 1983 and left in January 1984 to serve a mission for the LDS church in the Tegucigalpa Honduras Mission. On return she taught junior high school in Phoenix for four years. During that time she worked on her master’s degree in Community Education from Arizona State University.
She was a temple worker for the Mesa Temple on Saturdays.
Kem met and married Wade Alan MacNeille in the Mesa Arizona Temple. They were married 26 years.
She completed her Master’s of Education degree in May 1988. She taught part time ESL and GED Adult Education classes while she chose to be a stay at home mom. While a mother of six, she obtained her Ph.D. from ASU.
She was active in church callings ranging from Nursery to Cub Scouts, Primary, Young Women’s, Relief Society, Gospel Doctrine Teacher and Stake Relief Society presidencies.
Kem and her family moved to Show Low in June 2000 and made it home where they raised their children.
She has volunteered with the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Program for children. She filled vacancies on the Navajo County Community College District Governing Board and the Show Low School Board. She volunteered and substituted in the Show Low School District and just completed her fourth full year of teaching with the district. She taught one year at the junior high school and three years of Spanish at the high school.
Kem and her family want to thank all those who have touched and blessed their lives through church, school and other associations. We love and appreciate our community family.
Owens Livingston Mortuary of Show Low was in charge of the arrangements.
