Mrs. Alverta Coates McKenna, 93, of Commonwealth Senior Living, formerly of Salisbury, Md., wife of John Thomas McKenna and mother of Kevin Michael McKenna and his wife, Mary, and Laurie McKenna Horton and her husband, Jim, died on June 11, 2026, at Commonwealth Senior Living.
Alverta was born on Nov. 20, 1932, in Exmore. She was the daughter of the late George Melvin and Grace Carpenter Coates and sister to the late Mary Louise Coates Bracy.
Alverta was a strong, resilient, independent, and kind woman. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She dedicated many years working at DuPont in Wilmington, Del., as a personnel representative. Outside of work she enjoyed time with family, gardening, traveling abroad, and hiking with friends.
She is also survived by her sister, Rella Coates Hale and her husband, Nathan; her brother, George Melvin Coates Jr. and his wife, Anne Marie; her granddaughter, Natalie McKenna Horton; her great-grandchildren, Trey and McKenna Anne Valtierra; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be conducted Tuesday, June 30, at 11 a.m., at Johnsons Cemetery, with the Rev. Mike Fogle officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Johnsons United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund in care of Mrs. Brenda Floyd, 4198 Pear Plain Lane, Machipongo, VA 23405.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.doughtyfuneralhome.com
Arrangements were made by Doughty Funeral Home in Exmore.
