Donna Jean
Tietjen Tyler
Donna Jean Tietjen Tyler passed away peacefully surrounded by family on July 21, 2025. Jean was born on March 3, 1941, in Grants, New Mexico at the old Fjord Doctor Office. She lived her early life on the Tiejen Ranch with her parents Fats and Tess Tietjen and her sister Frances. She graduated from Grants High School in 1959.
She married Elton “PeeWee” Mckinnon in 1960. PeeWee was a jockey/thoroughbred horse trainer, and his work took them all over the Southwest and eventually to the East Coast. In 1977 Jean moved back to Lobo Canyon to care for her father. She lived 50 years in Lobo Canyon at the Tietjen Ranch Homestead. Throughout her life Jean and her sister Frances loved to organize the cattle drive and branding of their cattle and played a major part in running the ranch. She loved her children and dearly loved spending time with her grandchildren. Jean loved to stay in touch with world events and had a great curiosity about how things worked. Jean loved to help others and worked for many years as a home health agent for Silver Lining. She enjoyed feeding/watering hummingbirds and having a small garden.
Jean is is proceeded in death by her father: Fats Tietjen; her mother: Tess Tietjen; and her husbands: Elton McKinnon, Opal Roberts, and Virgil Tyler; and her niece: Rebecca White.
She is survived by her children: LeeAnn “Sissy” and Smiley McKinnon; Richelle McKinnon, daughter in law; and her two grandchildren: Kristopher and Hayley Mckinnon; her sister: Frances Reneau; and two nieces: Robin Parkinson and Roxi Moncur.
A graveside service was held Monday July 28 at the Bluewater Village Pioneer Cemetery at 10 am. Friends and family of Jean were invited to celebrate her life.
Pallbearers are Smiley McKinnon, Kristopher McKinnon, Justin Thomas, Dudley Byerley, Scott White, and John Meador. Honorary Pallbearers are Buddy Elkins, Jerry Tietjen, and Gary Matthews. The Family would like to express their gratitude to John and Dolores Meador and Gary Matthews for their loving kindness and support for our mother throughout the many years they have been her friends.