Mary Adeline McKenzie

Mary McKenzie, 83, a longtime Cashmere resident died Wednesday 19, 2009 at Kindred Hospital in Seattle of complications from a brain aneurysm. She was born June 1, 1926 in Hastings, Nebraska to James and Marie Smoot. Her family moved to Blewett Pass and then to Cashmere where she met her husband-to-be, Sterling McKenzie. She and Sterling married on July 14, 1945. In 1950 they moved their family into the home Sterling built. While raising their 5 children, Mary also ran an in-home daycare, was involved in 4-H, and managed the Catholic Church food booth at the Chelan County Fair. She and Sterling began square dancing in 1960 and continued dancing for the next 49 years. In 1984 Mary, Sterling, and other local square dancers created the Buds & Blossom Square Dance club where she was a round dance cuer. Mary and Sterling traveled extensively to dances. The dancers she's met have become dear friends and have been like a second family. Mary also worked as a teacher's assistant for 23 years at Vale Elementary School in Cashmere. She was known for ruling the playground during recess in her purple coat with her shiny whistle in hand. Many children in Cashmere have spent time along the old brick wall for breaking a playground rule, including her granddaughter. When the 4th graders needed Christmas gifts for their parents, Mary and Sterling designed wooden reindeer and other craft projects for them to make. Mary excelled in the kitchen and was known for her pies (especially apple), cinnamon rolls, apple pinwheels, and sloppy joes. Her saying was "Why go out to eat when I can make a perfectly good meal here." Many a friend and stranger have been provided with home cooked meals at her table or sent out the door with "a little something to eat in case you get hungry along the way." She has even been known as "the best cooker" by her oldest great-grandson. Her family was her pride and joy. She liked nothing better than to talk about her children's, grandchildren's and great-grandchildren's accomplishments. For many years, her house would be over-run with grandchildren during the summer months, and she liked nothing better than planning activities for them: touring Aplets & Cotlets, feeding the groundhogs in E. Wenatchee, the bunnies at the Rocky Reach Dam, and camping at Lake Entiat. She is survived by Sterling, her husband of 64 years, five children Ron (Pat) McKenzie of Seattle, Wayne (Dawn) McKenzie, of Wenatchee, Barb Agnew of Cashmere, Patti Douglas of Georgetown TX, Ken (Jennifer) McKenzie of New Castle; 11 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; and 5 siblings. She was preceded in death by her parents. Services will be held Monday August 24, 2009 at 10:00 am at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Cashmere. Interment will follow at the Cashmere Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held at 3:00pm on Monday at the Beacon Hill Grange in Wenatchee. Heritage Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Mary Adeline McKenzie

June 1, 1926 - August 19, 2009