William Thomas “Billy” McKenzie Sr., born June 25, 1941 in Miami, and a resident of Fairhope, passed away, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2013.
Billy was and always will be the sweetest, gentlest man I know. Our life journey started in 1963. We married in 1964, more than 49 years ago.
We were the first couple to be married in the little church next door. Lots of people came to our wedding to see him wearing shoes. That was his trademark at the time.
Along the way, we raised four beautiful children: Tommy, Mike, Travis and Melanie. Billy took time with each of them and taught them so much.
We are a close family, and our strength together can fight our battles. Billy never met a man he didn’t like and everyone liked him, especially little children.
He led a hard life on the farm. I have seen him work all day and drive the produce all night to get it where it was going.
Then we both retired, hoping to travel and Billy gets this horrible sickness called dementia. Believe me, I wouldn’t want to wish this on anyone. Little by little, it drained his life completely.
The nurses at the hospital called him “Papa Bear” because he was always smiling at them. I will miss my “Billy” more than you know, but he is at peace and in a much better place.
He always told me to have his wake at the potato shed, have his chewing tobacco and bury him in the back 40. He was a funny man, and we love him dearly.
Billy is survived by his wife, Julie McKenzie; sons, Tommy (Alicia), Mike (Roxanne) and Travis (Katie); daughter, Melanie Conklin (Matthew); and grandchildren, Austin, Tucker, Bryant, Callie and Coleman.
Visitation will be held Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013, from 5 until 8 p.m. at Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home in Fairhope.
Funeral services will be held Monday, Dec. 2, 2013, at 11 a.m., at Barnwell Baptist Church.
Interment will follow in Brook-Cedron Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Alzheimer’s Association in Billy’s honor. I pray one day we will have a cure for this terrible disease.
Arrangements by Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home, Fairhope.
