Update

Quinn Mckenzie Pierson Kenney

July 26, 1995 - October 21, 2026

Quinn Mckenzie Pierson Kenney passed away the morning of October 21st, 2026 after a remarkable cancer journey. Her treatment overlapped with the birth of her second son, her 4th wedding anniversary, her 30th and 31st birthdays, and the first two seasons of Chad Powers. Throughout her 17-month battle with triple-negative breast cancer, she endeared herself to doctors, nurses, receptionists, and custodians, inviting her care team to share in her faith, humor, hope, and fear. She retained her wit and spirit to the very end. Her family and community surrounded her with love, and her loss is felt by many throughout Texas and around the world.

Quinn was born to Craig and Sara Pierson on July 26, 1995 in Fontana, California. She was a free-spirit, earning the nickname “Hurricane” at the age of 4, and she spent the rest of her life demonstrating that she was truly a force of nature. She moved to Texas and attended New Braunfels High School, but skipped too many classes to qualify as a unicorn handler. She graduated from Baylor University in 2018 where she studied communication and supported numerous Waco small businesses with her creativity and keen eye for detail, before moving to Austin, Texas to begin her career.

Quinn worked as a marketing manager for non-profits, caring equally about good design and meaningful impact. Her category 4 creativity knew no bounds, and Quinn seemed to effortlessly cross between mediums both personally and professionally; from design, to writing, throwing pottery, curating dinner parties and bookclubs, and storytelling through social interaction media, she seemed to have a natural grace and a knack for success.

In February of 2022, she married Michael Kenney, and they quickly cemented their status as a power couple. After the first date, Quinn told her roommates that she was going to marry him, and Quinn was always right. Family often remarked on the depth of their communication skills, friends enjoyed their hospitality, humor, and curiosity, and acquaintances noted how cool and traditionally attractive they were.

Together Quinn and Michael shared two boys, Christopher (“Kit”) and Pierson, who will forever bear the fingerprints of their mother’s love. Quinn embraced motherhood with ease and gratitude, and allowed it to reshape her view of herself and her future. Both boys already reflect their mother’s intelligence and mischievousness. Quinn desperately wanted to be there to watch her sons grow up and to grow old with Michael. Each of them will feel the vacuum of her absence for the rest of their lives.

Quinn always said that she was born for her thirties; we just wish that she had been born for her nineties. She lived a rich life in the time that she had. She is survived by her parents, Craig and Sara, her brother, Ian, her husband, Michael, her sons, Kit and Pierson, and many dear, dear friends. We have no doubt that she has joined heaven’s welcome committee and will have fixed the lighting and the playlist before the rest of us arrive.

Quinn’s memorial service will be held Sunday, November 1st at 3:00 PM at Christ Church of Austin. In lieu of flowers, please consider a monetary gift through GoFundMe to help take care of her boys. The family would like to collect stories, pictures, and other pieces of Quinn through their website, here, to honor her love of collective remembrance and to give Kit and Pierson a multi-faceted picture of their mother as they grow up.

Quinn's Story

In June 2025, at 16 weeks pregnant, Quinn was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer—a rare, aggressive, and fast-growing form of the disease.

She completed 12 rounds of chemo while carrying our son, paused to deliver him — Pierson, healthy and perfect! — and got right back into it. In December 2025, she had a mastectomy followed by 4 more rounds of chemo, 30 rounds of radiation, and officially finished treatment in the new year. We exhaled.

Then in April 2026, we learned it had spread.

We're still processing what it means to live with a metastatic diagnosis. What we do know is that we have two little boys watching how we handle hard things, and we want to handle this one well.

How You Can Help

We're so grateful for the incredible care available to us, and we're being honest about what this season requires. Quinn has had to step back from the job she loves as she continues with treatment and navigates complications from the cancer. Similarly, Michael has had to take significant time off work to help care for Quinn. This fund helps cover lost income during this time, along with medical bills and everyday costs as our family adjusts.

Meals, visits, and messages of support have already carried us through so much — thank you for continuing to show up for us in ways big and small.

Every dollar goes toward keeping our family steady and focused on what matters most: Quinn's health and being present for our boys.

Whether you're able to give or not, sharing this page makes a real difference. And knowing you're in our corner means more than we can say.

With all of our love,

The Kenneys