Evelyn McKenzie

VIENNA -- Evelyn McKenzie, 89, passed away at 6:35 a.m. Tuesday, May 3, 2011, with her loving family at her side.

Evelyn was born Sept. 21, 1921, in Oak Grove community of Johnson County. She was the daughter of James Arthur "Garfield" Anderson and Margaret (Gore) Anderson.

Evelyn was united in marriage to Herman McKenzie on June 4, 1938, in Cape Girardeau. He preceded her in death Sept. 2, 2007.

Survivors include her children, Ann Taylor and her husband, Sherman, of Vienna, Nick McKenzie and his wife, Terri, of Vienna, Nita Gulley and her husband, Dean, of Vienna, Rita Johnson and her husband, Charlie, of Vienna; 10 grandchildren, Tracy Taylor, Chris Taylor, Sherie Smith, Jason Taylor, Scott McKenzie, Sara Lewis, Tara Thompson, Jon Gulley, Jeremy Gulley, and Justin Koehler; 22 great-grandchildren , Shane, Cody, Ashley, Shae, Chase, Cain, Trey, and Kassidy Taylor, Emily and Jacob Horn, Kyleigh, Emily, and Laurie Smith, Sam, C.J., Angel, Chris, Katie, and Russell McKenzie, Drew, Max, and Gabron Koehler; six great-great-grandchildren, Addie, Jaylyn, Stevie, Kyran, Levi and Georgia; three sisters-in-law, Val McKenzie of New Jersey, Prude McKenzie of Vienna, and Virginia Anderson of Avon, Ind.; a host of nieces and nephews; and a dear friend, Diane Rusing.

In addition to her parents and husband, Evelyn was preceded in death by a daughter, Margaret Ann McKenzie; a grandson, Jeffery Taylor; and five brothers, Aaron Anderson, George Anderson, Virgil Anderson, Herman Anderson, and Everett "Doc" Anderson.

Evelyn was a graduate of Vienna High School. She was employed by General Telephone Inc. as an operator until her retirement. She also had been a sales representative for Stanley and Avon products.

Evelyn was a member of Pleasant Ridge, where she had taught children's Sunday school and was a longtime kitchen and crafts volunteer with the Pleasant Ridge Christian Youth Camp.

Evelyn always did things in a "big" way. She loved life and spending time with her family and friends. Evelyn loved flowers and was especially talented at raising violets. At one time she had more than 200 violet plants in many different colors and types. Evelyn was a member of the Four Rivers African Violet Club in Paducah. She also enjoyed raising birds and had been known to keep more than 100 canaries in her home at a time.

Evelyn was also a gifted artisan. She enjoyed making crocheted items, knitting and quilting. She also, along with her husband, made and sold handcrafted ceramic items.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 10, in Pleasant Ridge Center, with Brother Richard Bundren will officiating. Burial will be in the Bridges Cemetery, southwest of Vienna. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday and from 7 to 10 a.m. Tuesday at Pleasant Ridge Center, near Vienna.

Memorials may be made to the Bridges Cemetery Fund, c/o Theresa Gray, P.O. Box 111, Vienna, IL 62995.

To leave an online message of condolence, visit www.baileyfh.com

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna.