Katherine McKenzie's Obituary
Services for Katherine Louise Smith McKenzie will be Saturday January 7th, at @ 2:00 in the chapel of Radar Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Rosewood Park. The family will receive friends on Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. Katherine passed away January 5, 2017 in Longview after a brief illness.
Katherine was born February 5, 1941 to Jack and Lillian Smith in Clovis, New Mexico. She was raised in the farming community of Lazbuddie, Texas. After graduating from Lazbuddie High School she attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. While attending TCU she met her husband Jerry and they were married August 5, 1961. Her husband was an employee of Southwestern Bell which kept them moving from Pittsburgh, Plainview, Midland and Sweetwater before settling in Longview in 1971. She was a housewife and mother of four for 15 years before returning to college for a degree in accounting. After earning her Certified Public Accounting License, she was employed by E.C. Johnston and Co. for 25 years. For the last eleven years, she has been self-employed allowing her the freedom to enjoy her grandchildren.
Preceding her in death were her oldest son Bryan, and her parents Jack and Lillian Smith.
Katherine is survived by her husband of 55 years Jerry; her daughter Shannon McKenzie Fell, her sons Kevin and wife Lisa, and Darin and wife Kathy; grandchildren Keith, Matthew, Maci, Madison, Colin, Lauren, Abbie McKenzie and Wade and Hannah Fell; a sister Beverly Adkins and brother Jack Finley and wife Shirley Smith; brother-law- Austin McKenzie and wife Mary, sister-in-law Shirley Hardy; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Katherine has made and maintained many friendships during her lifetime. She was a loving, kind, generous, and helpful wife, mother, grandmother, sister, cousin, aunt, niece and friend. She possessed numerous skills and talents. Many babies started their lives nestled in her beautiful, hand-crocheted blankets. She was an excellent cook, who loved sharing her culinary talents. All of us will remember, relish and miss being wrapped in her bountiful love and kindness, with most likely, one of her freshly baked cookies in our hand, usually our personal favorite. Katherine’s absence will always be felt by those who knew and loved her. Rest in peace, lovely lady. We will miss you forever.
In lieu of flowers, Katherine wished for donations to be made to Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch,
P. O. Box 1890, Amarillo, Texas 79174-0001
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