Shirley Dean McKenzie

1932 - 2025

Born to farmers in Strong, AR during the Great Depression, Shirley learned the principle of "waste not, want not" early in life. As a result, there was no food item that couldn't be frozen and eaten months later. Her parents, Ferris and Mayme Dean were firm but loving and supported Shirley who would become an intelligent and beautiful woman who was known for her Southern hospitality. She was raised In Nederland, Texas with bright and engaging siblings Hershel, Ruth, Dorothy and Vicki. Because they all loved her they figured prominently in my life and remained a tightly knit family. She graduated from Nederland High School and received an associate's degree at Lamar Tech in Beaumont, Texas. Shirley was fortunate in that she married the love of her life in 1951, Emmett Hardin McKenzie, Jr., her husband of forty eight years. Shirley and Emmett had four children, David Hardin, Kathy Cagle, Emmett Dean and Craig Allan. As one of her children, I can say that we all benefitted from extraordinary love and support which cannot be underestimated. She enjoyed her work as an administrative assistant and always brought joy and life to her coworkers. Though she was raised and retired in Nederland, she also lived in Carthage, Big Spring and Alvin, Texas where she developed lifelong friendships. Shirley was a wonderful host and loved to entertain. To the day she died she would arrange seating at the dinner table. She had a huge heart, perhaps too big for her own good. Like many empathic people she could discern the feelings of everyone in her presence whether it was one person or a party of a hundred. At times this made Shirley appear distracted or flighty but only because it must have been overwhelming to truly care about others. No wife, sister, mother or daughter is perfect and no one likes reading an obituary that implies that one was. But all who knew Shirley could agree that she never gave up on love or anyone she loved. She was a hopeless romantic and optimist and taught this cynical child that love conquers all. She is preceded in death by her husband, Emmett H. McKenzie, Jr. and her youngest son, Craig Allan McKenzie and is survived by her three other children, eleven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers she suggests donations be made to the Rev. E.H. McKenzie Foundation of First Methodist Church, Nederland, Texas.