Hazel Gladys McKenzie, 91, of Litchfield, died on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018, at HSHS St. John's Hospital Hospice in Springfield.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, Dec. 5, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Plummer Funeral Home in Litchfield. Funeral services will be held Thursday, Dec. 6, beginning at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Jack Barrett, Sr., son-in-law, officiating. Burial will follow at Elm Lawn Cemetery in Litchfield.
Mrs. McKenzie was born on Feb. 13, 1927, in Purdy, TN, (near Selmer) to John Lafayette "Mose" and Birdie Gazelle (Boyd) McCann. She married Rady Onis McKenzie on Aug. 30, 1941, in Corinth, MS, and he survives.
She attended school in Tennessee and later received her GED from Litchfield High School.
Mrs. McKenzie and her husband came to Illinois looking for work in May 1942, and settled in Alton. They moved to Mt. Olive in 1943, then to Harvel and finally settled in Litchfield, where they resided for approximately 68 years.
In earlier years, she worked at Brown Shoe Company, St. Francis Hospital for many years and later as a home health care provider.
Mrs. McKenzie excelled in knitting, crocheting and quilting, was an avid wrestling fan and always enjoyed working on her family tree.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by three sons, Sam (Mary) McKenzie of Livingston and John and Ron McKenzie, both of Litchfield; three daughters, Lavonne Sutton of Marshall, MO, Jeanne (Jack) Barrett of O'Fallon and Sara Rhodes of Litchfield; 19 grandchildren, Samuel Sutton, Linn McKenzie Fullerton, Jack Barrett II, David Rhodes, Melissa Barrett Freppon, Tasha McKenzie Lowery, Wendy McKenzie Glauber, Stacy, Mallory and Samuel C. McKenzie, Lesley Barrett Ingamells, Mackenzie and Michael Rhodes, Tomas and Nicholas Barrett, Brittney Barrett May, Sara Spears, William Stewart and Ronald McKenzie II; 28 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Mrs. McKenzie was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, John and William "Bill" McCann; four sisters, Ethel McCann Murray, Ruby McCann Bobo, Colleen McCann Brietwiser and Ernestine Murray; one son, Ray, who died at the age of 19; and one great-granddaughter, Katerina McKenzie.
Memorials may be directed to the Montgomery County Cancer Association or the Litchfield Volunteer Fire Department.
To sign the online guestbook, light a virtual candle or for directions, please visit www.plummerfuneralservices.com.
