Marlene McKenzie

May 6, 1939–July 11, 2024

 

Marlene “Jeanette” McKenzie, 85, of Ironton, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 11, 2024, at Avalon Nursing Home in Lewis Center.

She was born in Ironton, on May 6, 1939, to her late parents; William “Bill” Large and Shirley Bryant Large. Jeanette was preceded in death by her husband; James Richard McKenzie in 2007.

She grew up in Deering, where she loved running the hills on the 4J Ranch and playing with her shepherd dog, Ol’ Ranger, as a child.

Jeanette was a graduate of Dawson-Bryant High School and graduated from both Marshall University and Rio Grande University where she met the love of her life, James “Jim” McKenzie.

Jeanette started her teaching career in Crown City, at the age of 17, finishing teaching the talented and gifted classes in Dawson-Bryant intermediate 36 years later then retiring.

She then spent her time writing, painting, enjoying Sunday drives with the family, loving her animals, walking on the family farm and praising God and his goodness.

The touched the lives of many students over the years and dearly loved all of them.

She was a firecracker that loved life. She will never be forgotten. She will live on in the hearts and lives of the ones she loved and the ones that loved her.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her sister and brother-in-law; Joann and John Warnke; and her brother-in-law, Cliff Provencal.

Those left to cherish her memory are her children, James (Angela) McKenzie, of Coal Grove, and Janice Lynn (Tony) Pernestti, of Delaware; her grandchildren, Will (Tina) McKenzie, of Hanging Rock, Holly McKenzie, of Ironton, Jacob M. Smith, of Columbus, Annyessa Hicks, of Ashland, Kentucky, MaKayla Freeman, of Coal Grove, Summer Freeman, of Coal Grove, Katalina J. Pernestti, of Columbus, Anthony “Armani” Pernestti, of Delaware; her great-grandchildren; Caliber McKenzie, Sophia Freeman, Chandler West, Tony Fox, Krystal Fox, Creeden McKenzie, Trip Heavner, and James Heavner; her sisters; Janice (Richard) Wheeler, of Ashland, Kentucky, and Jeanine Provencal, of Westerville.

Funeral service will be 3 p.m. Sunday at Community Missionary Baptist Church, 4049 State Route 243, Ironton, with David Lambert officiating.

Visitation will be 1:30 p.m. until the time of service at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorial donations be made to Community Missionary Baptist Church.