[Diabetes-talk] Fw: [nfb-talk] Article About Priscilla Mckinley

[Mike Freeman]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael D. Barber" <michael.nfbi at gmail.com>
To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, December 17, 2010 4:06 PM
Subject: [nfb-talk] Article About Priscilla Mckinley


> This article appeared in two different papers in Iowa today about the
> passing of Priscilla Mckinley.
>
> Priscilla McKinley Priscilla McKinley of Iowa City, and formerly of St.
> Ansgar, died on Sunday, December 12 at her home in Iowa City. Priscilla
> Leigh McKinley was born on August 10, 1961, in Osage, Iowa, the youngest
> child of the late Philip and Phyllis McKinley. She grew up in St. Ansgar,
> graduating from St. Ansgar High School in 1979. Despite losing her 
> eyesight
> at age 22, due to complications of diabetes, and suffering serious health
> problems for many years, Priscilla lived an exceptionally full life and 
> was
> an inspiration to many others as a successful, confident, and competent
> blind person. She earned her B.A. degree in English at the University of
> Iowa in 1993 followed by a Master of Fine Arts degree with honors in
> Nonfiction Writing in 1998, and her Ph.D. degree in Language, Literacy, 
> and
> Culture in 2006. Her doctoral dissertation, Literacy in the Lives of the
> Blind, investigated how literacy practices of the blind have been 
> influenced
> by technology and sponsors of literacy, including parents, teachers, and
> rehabilitation professionals. As a strong advocate for making computing
> technology more accessible and of exploiting that technology to improve 
> the
> lives of vision-impaired people, Priscilla's pioneering approaches gained
> the attention of the popular press, and she was featured in an article in
> the New York Times and on the CBS Evening News. Priscilla won numerous
> scholarships and awards, including a 1996 National Federation of the Blind
> scholarship and a 1998 NFB TenBroeck Fellowship. As a graduate student and
> instructor at the University of Iowa, Priscilla taught many writing 
> courses
> and was an engaging and beloved teacher. In 2000, based on nominations by
> her current and former students, she was named Blind Educator of the Year 
> by
> the National Federation of the Blind. A prolific writer, Priscilla had
> numerous works published in technical journals, literary magazines and
> books. She was a seemingly tireless organizer and served in many 
> positions,
> including vice president of the National Organization of Blind Educators, 
> as
> a member of the Board of Directors of the NFB of Iowa, and as a mentor to
> many individuals who had recently lost their vision. She was serving as
> president of the Old Capitol Chapter of the NFB at the time of her death.
> Through her stubborn refusal to give in to the complications of diabetes,
> she defied the odds so many times that those close to her began to feel 
> she
> was invincible. Known for her independent spirit, feisty character, and
> perseverance, Priscilla was able to find humor in the most dire 
> situations,
> even if it meant laughing at herself. In spite of many health setbacks, 
> she
> was able to go on and reach outstanding personal achievements and touch 
> the
> lives of many individuals outside her circle of family and friends.
> Priscilla was a loving and devoted mother, a beloved sister and aunt, and 
> a
> cherished friend. She will be missed by all. Priscilla is survived by her
> son, Jonathan Whalen, of Vienna, Virginia, her companion C. Thomas Foster 
> of
> Iowa City, two sisters, Ann Randall of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Jane
> McKinley of Hopewell, New Jersey, two brothers, William McKinley of 
> Madison,
> Wisconsin, and Philip McKinley of Okemos, Michigan, nine nieces and 
> nephews,
> her sweet dog, Bella, and many relatives and friends. She was preceded in
> death by her parents and a sister, Marcia McKinley. A private burial will 
> be
> held at the St. Ansgar City Cemetery. On Tuesday, December 28, at 2:00 
> p.m.,
> friends are invited to gather to offer their condolences to the family at
> the United Methodist Fellowship Hall, 510 West Fourth Street, St. Ansgar,
> Iowa. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, December 29 at 11:00
> a.m. at the Iowa Memorial Union on North Madison Street in Iowa City.
> Arrangements have been made through Lensing Funeral Service in Iowa City. 
> In
> lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial gifts be made to the 
> National
> Federation of the Blind of Iowa, 2721 34th Street, Des Moines, Iowa, 
> 50310.
> .
>
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