Beatrice "Bea" McKinzie

Beatrice Bauer McKinzie, 76, of Pilot Grove, passed away Saturday, January 31, 2026, at University Hospital in Columbia.

She was born on October 7, 1949, in Cooper County, a daughter of Francis and Isabelle (Stoecklein) Bauer.

On June 24, 1972, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pilot Grove, Bea was united in marriage to Michael McKinzie, who survives of the home. Together they shared a life rooted in faith, learning, and love for family.

Bea devoted her life to education, faith, and family, leaving a lasting impact on generations of students and all who knew her.

Bea spent many years as a dedicated teacher, sharing her love of learning through teaching math and reading. She taught at St. Peter’s and Paul Catholic School in Boonville and later retired from Sacred Heart Catholic School in Sedalia. Her commitment to education extended beyond the classroom when she worked for the Department of Education, where she focused on helping students in the Tipton and Glasgow communities.

Bea believed deeply in encouraging each child as an individual. Rather than giving cards to her students, she thoughtfully selected a book that suited each student and wrote a personal, handwritten message inside—gifts that often became treasured keepsakes and lifelong reminders of her care and encouragement.

A woman of strong faith, Bea was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pilot Grove. She grew up attending St. John the Baptist Catholic School and Church in Clear Creek, where her faith foundation was formed and remained an important part of her life.

Bea had a deep passion for genealogy and family history. She spent countless hours researching her roots and often took her daughter along on visits to cemeteries to locate and honor family members. Her love for her heritage led her on several trips to Germany with her sisters, where she joyfully connected with extended family and explored her ancestral homeland.

Bea will be remembered for her kindness, her devotion to education, her faith-filled life, and the quiet but powerful ways she shaped the lives of others. Her legacy lives on in the countless students she encouraged, the family history she preserved, and the love she shared with all who were blessed to know her.

Survivors include her husband Michael of 53 years; two children, Ryan M. McKinzie, Megan Mckinzie Santiago both of Pilot Grove; two grandchildren, Keeley and Keegan; one sister, Bridgett Bauer of Kansas City, MO.

In addition to both of her parents she was preceded in death by one sister, Rose Mary Bauer.

Prayers of the Rosary will be recited at 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, February 5, 2026, with visitation to follow from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pilot Grove. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, February 6, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church with burial to follow in St. John the Baptist Cemetery, Clear Creek. Memorial contributions are suggested to Sacred Heart Catholic School or St. John the Baptist Cemetery.