Ellen Deborah Shepherd McKinney, 59, of Draper Utah passed away Thursday January 14, 2021 of COVID19 surrounded by Family and loved ones.

Ellen was the third child of Robert and Joan Shepherd who pre-deceased her. Ellen was born November 3, 1961 at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital in New London Connecticut. She was raised along with her siblings in Ledyard Connecticut graduating from Ledyard High School in 1979. Ellen attended Mohegan Community College with a major in Early Childhood Education.

Ellen married Sean McKinney on May 5, 1990 and began their married life in Chesapeake Virginia until May of 1991 when they exited the Military and moved to Rancho Cucamonga in Southern California. Their son Kyle Aaron was born on September 28, 1991. They moved to Las Vegas Nevada in 2005 finally making their way to Draper Utah in 2012. They became members of Grace City Church which was a Church plant sent from multiple Evangelical Christian Churches and transitioned in April of 2017 to Hope Church, another Christian Church Plant in the Salt Lake Valley. Ellen truly enjoyed her bible study classes, singing worship songs, going to eat and fellowshipping with her sisters and brothers in the church.

Ellen is survived by her loving husband Sean of Draper UT and her son Kyle, his wife Brittney and her grandson Elijah Lee of Herriman. She is also survived by her Brother David Shepherd, his wife Ashley of New York, her brother Garry Shepherd of Murry, UT and her sister Carole Simpson and her husband Rob of Sudbury Massachusetts. Ellen is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Ellen loved to spend her time watching reality television and eating candy. One of her favorite enjoyments was her visits with her niece Jennifer, her husband Mikey and their many animals.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be given to Autism Speaks in Ellen McKinney’s name, https://www.autismspeaks.org/. The family wishes to thank the nursing staff at St. Mark’s hospital for their unwavering care of Ellen during her Covid19 battle.