McKinzie, Roy Lee & Helen K.

Obituary: Helen Kathrine McKinzie - Ellis Family Funeral Home, Grove, OK

SEPTEMBER 13, 1921 ~ MARCH 11, 2011 (AGE 89)

Former resident of Grove, Oklahoma, Helen Katherine McKinzie, age 88, died on Friday March 11, 2011 in Kansas City, Missouri. Helen was born on September 13, 1922 in Bigstick, West Virginia. She was the daughter of Joseph and Katherine (Bacharz) Drozdowski and grew up in Massachusetts. Helen was united in marriage to Roy L. McKinzie on November 30, 1946, in Springfield, Missouri. In her younger days, Helen loved dancing, ice-skating and roller skating. She & Roy enjoyed square dancing with Green Country Square-dancing in Grove for several years, and she was a member of the local clogging group until she was 70. Helen enjoyed Tole Painting, Cake Decorating, Tatting, Knitting, Crocheting, Hat Making, Costume Designing, Furniture building and Wood Carving. She moved to Liberty, MO in Sept. 2008, living at Our Lady of Mercy Country Home, where she made many new friends that she will miss. She also attended Liberty United Methodist Church while residing in Liberty, MO; where she was loved by many. At the time of her death, due to her declining health, she was living with her daughter, Kathleen Craven. Helen was a member of the St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Grove, Oklahoma. Helen was preceded in death by her parents, her husband two sisters Geneva Pysz, Virginia Koch and one brother Theodore Drozdowski. Helen is survived by her four children; Sharon (& Gary) DeHaemers, Overland Park, KS, Kathleen (& Steve) Craven, Kansas City, MO, Wayne (& Rene) McKinzie, Taos, NM, Marie (& Tim) Rodreick, Orlando, FL. She was blessed with nine grandchildren; Brian (& Kim) Reynolds, Liberty, MO, Kristin (& Roc) Sapenaro, KC, MO, Kim (& Dale) Simms, Indianapolis, IN, Laura (& John) Schmidt, Prairie Village, KS, Elliott (& Amanda) Craven, KC, MO, Emily (& Brian) Barker, KC, MO, Tucker McKinzie, Denton, TX, Katie Blanchette, Boston, MA, Tyler Blanchette, State College, PA and ten great-grandchildren; Brittany, Joshua, Anna, Mia Sapenaro, Emily, Liam, Maddie Reynolds, Skyler & Violet Simms, Jude Schmidt. The family will have a short visitation at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at the St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Grove, Oklahoma with funeral services starting at 11:00 a.m. with Father Phil Lawrence officiating. Interment will immediately follow at Buzzard Cemetery. Friends and family may leave online condolences by viewing Helen's obituary at www.ellisfuneralhome.com. Services are under the direction of Ellis Family Funeral Home of Grove, Oklahoma.

Visitation Details:  Tuesday, March 15th, 2011 10:00am - 10:45am, St. Andrews Episcopal Church

Service Details:  Wednesday, March 16th, 2011 11:00am, St. Andrews Episcopal Church

Interment Details:  Buzzard Cemetery