Obituary for Verna McKenzie

Verna McKenzie

(April 13, 1931 – January 13, 2016)

Verna M. McKenzie of Braman, Oklahoma, died Wednesday morning, January 13, 2016, in the Stillwater Medical Center in Stillwater, Oklahoma, at the age of 84 years.

Verna M. McKenzie was born on April 13, 1931, in Braman, Oklahoma, to Walter H. and Martha (Reinking) Kelle. She attended Blackwell Public Schools graduating in 1949. While in high school she was a cheerleader and played in the band. She was one of the first swimming instructors to work at the Blackwell Municipal Pool. Following high school, Verna continued her education at Northern Oklahoma Junior College, where she met her future husband, Bill. She transferred to Oklahoma State University where she was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority and helped her sorority win the Greek sports trophy in intramural athletics. In 1953 she graduated from the School of Arts and Science with a bachelor’s degree in education. She was employed as a teacher at Jefferson Grade School in Ponca City. She later took graduate courses with teachers from Braman where she worked as a substitute teacher.

She married Bill McKenzie in Blackwell on November 26, 1952. They later moved to the farm at Sumpter in 1955 and reared their two daughters, Ann and Susie. Verna always helped out at the farm driving the tractor, truck, or doing whatever was needed.

Both she and Bill were avid Oklahoma State fans and attended all football and basketball games. As a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Blackwell, she served as an Elder, Sunday School Superintendent, and choir member. She could also be seen doing many church kitchen duties. She also served as a voting delegate to the Presbyterian National Convention in Indianapolis in 1955 representing the Presbytery. She was a longtime member of the Kay County Child Welfare Board that helped assist foster children. She held membership and served as President of the Alpha Chi Omega Alumni Chapter in Kay County. She also enjoyed serving as a hospital volunteer and membership in the Top of Oklahoma Historical Museum.

She is survived by her husband of sixty-three years, Bill McKenzie; a brother, Aubrey Kelle of Braman; a sister, Leona Bell of Moberly, Missouri; two daughters, Ann Whiteley and husband Rob of Stillwater and Susie McKenzie of Dallas, Texas; grandson, Steve Whiteley and wife Clara Rowden Whiteley and great grandson, Ben of Houston; granddaughter, Linda Gutierrez and husband Chris, and great granddaughters, Gracie and Ellie of Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Verna loved being a grandma and great grandma.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and a sister, Maxine Nixon.

Services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Saturday, January 16th in the First Presbyterian Church in Blackwell with Rev. Karen Rogers officiating. Burial will follow in the Blackwell Cemetery.

Casketbearers will be Steve Whiteley, Chris Gutierrez, John Kelle, Jared Grell, Austin Tickel and Paul Skidmore.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in her memory to the Child Welfare Advisory Board or the First Presbyterian Church in Blackwell in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.

The family will greet friends at the funeral home on Friday evening, January 15th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.