Bartlesville, Oklahoma – The Bartlesville community is grieving the sudden loss of McKenna Grace Counterman, a 20-year-old student at Oklahoma State University, who passed away unexpectedly on September 10, 2024. McKenna, a beloved resident of Bartlesville, was deeply involved in her community, especially through her passion for dance and education.
McKenna was born on July 28, 2004, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to parents David and Julie Counterman. She spent the early days of her life in the NICU before returning home to Bartlesville, where she thrived academically and artistically. A 2022 graduate of Bartlesville High School, she was known for excelling in mathematics and her love for music, having performed in the school chorus from middle school through high school.
Her greatest passion, however, was dance. McKenna began dancing at the age of three and performed with the Bartlesville Civic Ballet and Inspirations Dance Studio. She participated in numerous productions, including The Nutcracker, where she progressed from her early roles as a newborn angel and a mouse to her dream role of Clara. McKenna also appeared in other beloved ballets such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Dracula, and Coppelia. For McKenna, the ballet stage was her "happy place," and she was known for lighting up the room with her performances.
McKenna was a junior at Oklahoma State University, studying elementary education, a career path she was passionate about pursuing. She was also a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, where her loss has been deeply felt by her sorority sisters and the university community.
The Bartlesville Civic Ballet shared a heartfelt tribute to McKenna, stating, “It is with great sorrow that we say goodbye to McKenna Counterman (2004-2024). McKenna spent a large portion of her life dancing with BCB both in the studio and on the stage. She was a friend and supporter of her fellow dancers and had a smile that could light up the room. We are heartbroken that her time here has been so brief.”
Several individuals expressed their condolences on social media. Krista Thompson shared, "Dancing on the other side of the veil now. Love you special, McKenna," while Renea Pinney added, "Prayers for her family."
McKenna’s family, friends, and community are devastated by her sudden passing. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Stumpff Funeral Home & Crematory, as her loved ones gather to remember her bright spirit and the joy she brought to those around her.