Hugh Michael McKenna

Seaside resident, 82Hugh Michael McKenna, 82, of Seaside died Friday, May 21, 2004 at St. Vincent Hospital in Portland.

He was born April 1, 1922 in Astoria. He lived in Seaside for most of his life and attended Seaside schools.

Mr. McKenna was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Pacific Theater in World War II, then worked 40 years for Pacific Power in Seaside as a meter technician.

He married Jane Larfield. She survives, residing in Seaside.

Mr. McKenna was active in community affairs, including 34 years with the Seaside Volunteer Fire Department, from which he retired as captain and training officer; four years as Seaside city councilman; eight years on the Seaside Budget Committee; 29 years service on Seaside Public Library board; two years Seaside police promotion board; 24 years on Union Health District board for Providence Seaside Hospital; several years on Sunset Empire Transportation District board; Astoria Maritime Museum, other county and city ad-hoc committees.

He had been active in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. He was a 5-gallon blood donor. He was also a bagpiper, playing in Clatsop Scottish Pipe Band, then in Portland Scottish. An active member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic parish, he also was deeply involved in the ecumenical movement in Seaside.

Mr. McKenna and his wife made many visits to Ireland.

Family members say in 26 visits there, he had become interested in the Burren region of County Clare where he made some archaeological finds relating to Stone Age and Bronze Age burial sites and helped discover rare wildflowers not previously known in that part of Ireland.

He was an author of books detailing his experiences, one on the war in the Pacific, another on his career in the utility industry and a third relating to exploration of the Burren. A prolific diarist, he detailed all of his travels in many journals. Copies of his books are in Seaside Public Library.

He is survived by three sons and a daughter-in-law, Hugh McKenna and Andrea Kennet of Smith Lake, Leo McKenna of North Bend, Wash., and Daniel McKenna of Seaside; a daughter and son-in-law, Maureen and Robert Pung of Gresham; a grandson, Rob Pung of Gresham; a granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Michelle and Scott Johansen of North Bend, Wash.; two great-granddaughters, Samantha Baldwin and Brittney Hamilton of North Bend, Wash.; a great-grandson, Brandon Johansen of North Bend, Wash.; four brothers-in-law and their spouses, George Larfield of Seaside, Don Larfield of Moses Lake, Wash., John and Inez Larfield of Seaside and Leo and Louise Larfield of Portland; and many friends around the world.

Viewing will be from noon to 6 p.m. today at Hughes-Ransom Mortuary in Seaside.

Recitation of the Rosary will be at 6 p.m. today at Hughes Ransom Mortuary in Seaside.

Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Seaside.

Interment will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Evergreen Cemetery near Seaside and will include a firefighters’ procession by the Seaside Volunteer Fire Department.

Memorial contributions may be made to Providence Seaside Hospital Foundation, in care of Hughes-Ransom Cremation & Mortuaries, 220 N. Holladay Drive, Seaside, Oregon 97138.