Catherine Eilene “Katie” McKean, age 80, of Exeter, Missouri
Catherine Eilene “Katie” McKean, age 80, of Exeter, Missouri passed away Friday, May
8, 2026 at Mercy Hospital Springfield in Springfield, Missouri.
She was born February 26, 1946 in Seattle, Washington, the daughter of John and
Yvonne (Allen) Murphy. On October 16, 1981 in Elizabeth City, North Carolina she was united
in marriage to Jerrold McKean, who preceded her in death November 4, 2013. Also preceding
her in death were her parents; sisters, Yvonne Jones, Gail Eugena Zyto, and Margaret Ann
Murphy and brothers-in-law, Greg Zyto and Leon Jones.
Surviving are her son, John Owens and fiancée Cheri of Exeter; daughter, Christine
Hammers and husband Tony of Exeter; grandchildren, Briana De La Cruz, Katie Ball, Jasmine
Hansen and Brayden, Casey Ball and Megan, and Paige Owens and great grandchildren, Zoey,
Brooklyn, Lane, Jett, Blakely, Abigail, Colson, Rylie, and Trace.
Katie attended school in Norfolk, Virginia, graduating from Granby High School.
Furthering her education, she attended Old Dominion University in Norfolk earning an Associate
degree in Social Work. She was employed as a switchboard operator at the naval base in
Norfolk, as a police officer in the downtown Bay Tunnel in Norfolk, was a social worker for
Crossroads in Virginia, a delegate in Virginia and she worked at Piedmont in Crewe, Virginia.
In 1996, she moved to Exeter from Green Bay, Virginia. Katie enjoyed crocheting,
reading, tending her flowers and garden, quilting, and making hats for preemie babies. She made
a majority of the costumes for the Passion of the Christ production in Cassville and was very
politically motivated. Katie attended First Baptist Church in Cassville.
Memorial services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, May 16, 2026 at Cassville United
Methodist Church in Cassville, under direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville. Pastor Jeff
Fugitt will conduct the services. Burial will be at Maplewood Cemetery in Exeter, Missouri.
